Abstract
Four cases of cervical myelopathy due to calcification of ligamentum flavum were reviewed. There were three females and one male, and the age at the time of operations ranged from 71 to 77 years old. Gait disturbance had be seen severely in all cases. Minimum antero-posterior diameters of the cervical spinal canal on plain X-ray ranged from 10mm to 13mm. CT scan detected calcified masses apparently, and magnetic resonance image (MRI) showed no-signal or low-signal area in the calcification of ligamentum flavum. All cases underwent en block laminectomy for the purpose of complete decompression, and their clinical symptomes improved well. Histologically, degenerative changes of elastic fibers and massive calcification in the ligamentum flavum were observed. The substances of the calcificated tissues were analyzed in three cases and were proven to be calcium phosphate.
