TY - JOUR
T1 - Thoracic radiculopathy caused by ossification of the ligamentum flavum
AU - Yabe, Yutaka
AU - Honda, Masahito
AU - Hagiwara, Yoshihiro
AU - Tohjo, Yuuichi
AU - Nakajima, Souichi
AU - Ando, Akira
AU - Sonofuchi, Kazuaki
AU - Itoi, Eiji
PY - 2013/3
Y1 - 2013/3
N2 - Thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) has been widely recognized as a main cause of thoracic myelopathy in Asia, particularly in Japan. However, thoracic OLF rarely causes radiculopathy. We report a rare case of thoracic radiculopathy caused by OLF. A 67-year-old male presented with a chief complaint of back pain radiating to the right of the abdomen. Neurological examination revealed mild sensory deficit at the right side of the abdomen at the T9-10 level. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography demonstrated OLF at the right T9-10 level. Thoracic radiculopathy caused by OLF was suspected. Because conservative treatment was not effective to this lesion, surgical intervention was performed, and the pain disappeared immediately after the operation. Thoracic OLF rarely causes radiculopathy, but it should be considered as a differential diagnosis of thoracic radicular pain. When conservative treatment is not effective in this lesion, surgical treatment should be considered.
AB - Thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) has been widely recognized as a main cause of thoracic myelopathy in Asia, particularly in Japan. However, thoracic OLF rarely causes radiculopathy. We report a rare case of thoracic radiculopathy caused by OLF. A 67-year-old male presented with a chief complaint of back pain radiating to the right of the abdomen. Neurological examination revealed mild sensory deficit at the right side of the abdomen at the T9-10 level. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography demonstrated OLF at the right T9-10 level. Thoracic radiculopathy caused by OLF was suspected. Because conservative treatment was not effective to this lesion, surgical intervention was performed, and the pain disappeared immediately after the operation. Thoracic OLF rarely causes radiculopathy, but it should be considered as a differential diagnosis of thoracic radicular pain. When conservative treatment is not effective in this lesion, surgical treatment should be considered.
KW - Conservative treatment
KW - Operation
KW - Ossification of ligamentum flavum
KW - Thoracic radiculopathy
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U2 - 10.3109/03009734.2012.715598
DO - 10.3109/03009734.2012.715598
M3 - Article
C2 - 23163624
AN - SCOPUS:84873936576
VL - 118
SP - 54
EP - 58
JO - Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences
JF - Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences
SN - 0300-9734
IS - 1
ER -