• Sandeep Mohindra, Rajesh Chhabra, Kanchan Kumar Mukherjee, Sunil Kumar Gupta, Kim Vaiphei, and Virender Kumar Khosla.
• Department of Neurosurgery, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012 India. satya_sandee@yahoo.com
• Surg Neurol. 2006 Apr 1;65(4):377-84, discussion 384.

BackgroundOssification of ligamentum flavum in the thoracic region causing compressive myelopathy among middle-aged patients is a poorly described entity.Case DescriptionFive patients of Indian origin with OYL are described. Their clinical presentations, surgical options, and long-term outcome are presented. Radiologic and clinical follow-up of one of the patient is described over a span of 10 years.ConclusionsDecompressive laminectomy and excision of the OYL is the commonly performed surgical procedure. A rapid neurologic improvement follows decompression. The persistent spasticity in certain patients is attributed to irreversible changes within the cord. The disease is thought to be progressive in nature. The prolonged follow-up of these patients suggests that the long-term prognosis is poor. Selective racial involvement and variable clinical presentations, with treatment options, are discussed.

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