Symptomatic thoracic ossified ligamentum flavum in achondroplasia: A case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND

In a patient with achondroplasia, it is rare to encounter thoracic cord compression due to both spinal stenosis and ossification of the yellow ligament (OYL).

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 33-year-old achondroplastic female presented with a progressive spastic paraparesis attributed to thoracic stenosis combined with T10-T11 OYL. Following a laminectomy, the patient demonstrated a marked recovery of neurological function.

CONCLUSION

This case and 12 others from the literature demonstrated that achondroplastic patients who present with myelopathy secondary to thoracic stenosis and OYL can be readily diagnosed with MR/CT and successfully treated utilizing decompressive laminectomies with/without fusions (i.e., for those crossing the thoracolumbar junction).