Treatment of a Patient with Ossification of Ligamentum Flavum of Cervical Spine and Literature Review

Abstract

<i>Background</i>: The ossification of ligamentum flavum occurs frequently in the thoracic vertebra, and the incidence of ossification of cervical ligamentum flavum is relatively low. It is easy to cause misdiagnosis and mistreatment due to lack of understanding in clinical practice. <i>Object</i>: To understand the diagnosis and treatment of cervical ossification of ligamentum flavum through the treatment of one case. <i>Material</i>: A 65-year-old female patient was hospitalized due to "lumbar discomfort with numbness of both lower limbs for 1 year, and aggravation with numbness and weakness of both upper limbs for the last 3 months". Physical examination showed cervical flexion, extension and lateral flexion activities were limited, post extension limitations were obvious, limb muscle strength was grade 4, right knee tendon reflex was active, and bilateral Hoffman sign and right Babinski sign were positive. Cervical JOA score was 8 points. Magnetic resonance imaging of cervical spine showed that there were pressure objects protruding to the spinal canal between C3/4, C5/6, and C6/7 laminae. Sagittal MRI showed segmental or focal nodular space occupying and protruding into the spinal canal from the rear of the spinal canal. Cross sectional MRI showed nodular or "M" shaped occupying space. T1 weighted image was equal signal, and T2 weighted image showed low signal shadow, suggesting high-density ossification and severe spinal cord compression. The effective sagittal diameter was less than 8mm. <i>Method</i>: Hemilaminectomy was performed for a single segmental OLF of C3/4, and a total laminectomy was performed for bilateral and multi-segmental OLF of C5/6, 6/7. According to the range of intraoperative decompression, C5 and 6 posterior lateral mass screws and C7 pedicle screws were fixed. <i>Result</i>: After the operation, the patient indicated that his upper limbs were relaxed, the umbilical horizontal band disappeared, and the muscle strength of his limbs was stronger than that before the operation. She could move freely on the ground, and her holding was more flexible and powerful than before. The postoperative JOA score was 12 points. The postoperative pathological result was fibrous connective tissue and ossification. The follow-up JOA score was increased to 15 points 8 months after operation, and the improvement rate was 78%. The patient could completely take care of herself, and the treatment was satisfactory. <i>Conclusion</i>: Surgical resection of cervical olf and canal decompression is an effective method for the treatment of Cervical OLF and can achieve good clinical results.