“Thickened” ligamentum flavum caused by laminectomy

Abstract

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a laminectomy on the adjacent ligamentum flavum (LF) by measuring LF thickness using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Materials and methods

A total of 78 patients (31 man, 47 woman) with laminectomy were included in our study. After determination of laminectomy level, measurements were done from the thickest parts of the bilateral LF at the upper level of the laminectomy where bilateral facet joints were evident at the slice.

Results

Ipsilateral ligamentum flavum with laminectomy was significantly thicker than the contralateral ligamentum flavum with laminectomy.

Conclusion

Laminectomy cause thickening of ligamentum flavum. Therefore we assume that it should kept in mind that LFH may develop at the adjacent level to the laminectomy and careful clinical and radiological assessments’ should be done to exclude LFH in cases who complain about the recurrence of complaints during the post-operative period after laminectomy.