The “Thickened” Ligamentum Flavum: Is It Buckling or Enlargement?

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Thickening of the LF is ascribed to buckling due to DSN. Uncertainty exists as to whether this can occur without DSN. Our primary hypothesis was that facet degenerative changes alone, independent of DSN, can thicken the LF. Our secondary hypothesis was that inflammatory changes surrounding degenerative facet joints may incite thickening.

A Study on the Thickness of Ligamentum Flavum in Asymptomatic Persons and Patients With Low Back Pain and Its Variation With Gender in Eastern Indian Population- As Measured Using Mri

“…The thickness was seen to be significantly higher in LBP group than in Control group in both the sides in all lumbar segments. The study findings corroborated with the studies of Fukuyama et a [16], Abbas et al [17], Safak et al [15], Altinkaya et al [18], Kolte V S et al [19] whereas it differed from the studies performed by Grenier et al [20], Chokshi et al [14]. The difference might be due to sample size and racial variation.…”

“…The purpose of the study was to measure the thickness of LF in asymptomatic persons in relation to age and gender to understand how these pertinent variables influence the thickness of LF and also to measure thickness of LF in patients with low back pain. In this study, T1WI were used as the tool for the measurement by a standardized technique [14]. dicular to the spinal canal axis and parallel to the laminae, where LF was seen along the entire length.…”

The paradoxical relationship between ligamentum flavum hypertrophy and developmental lumbar spinal stenosis

“…These mechanisms are part of the degenerative process that occurs in the spine. Degenerative processes like facet hypertrophy may induce inflammatory changes that also contributes to LF hypertrophy [26]. Various stress conditions, such as hypoxia, can upregulate biomarkers and promote LF inflammation, causing degeneration in LF and its hypertrophy as well [27].…”

Extensive laminectomy for multilevel cervical stenosis with ligamentum flavum hypertrophy: more than 10 years follow-up

“…In both T1-and T2-weighted images, LFH appears as an area of low signal intensity that is triangular or hemispheric in shape at inter-lamina region of the posterior margin of the canal [18,19] (Fig. 5d, e) with disappeared epidural fat tissue and dura sac compressed.…”