Ossification of the Ligamentum Flavum: Thoracic Myelopathy in Non-Oriental Patient. Case report

Ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) of thoracic spine occurs along with a progressive spine lesion, and is a rare myelopathy in non-Oriental patients. Computed Tomography or Magnetic Resonance imaging of spine are used for diagnosis, and early decompressive laminectomy is the treatment of choice. We report a case of female patient, 73-year-old, who presented progressive and symmetrical paraparesis, and painful tactile hypoesthesia at T4 level with two months of evolution of the case. After OLF diagnosis, with myelopathy on T1-T2 segment, we performed spine decompression with significant functional better results. According to our research and knowledge, this is the third case to be reported on Brazilian medical literature of a patient with non-Oriental descent.