Ossification of the cervical ligamentum flavum and case report with myelopathy

BACKGROUND: Ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) occurs mostly in adult males, typically in the thoracolumbar spine where it may contribute to neurological deficits. Here we reviewed 68 cases of cervical OLF resulting in progressive quadriparesis. METHODS: The literature on cervical OLF was reviewed between 1962 and 2018 along with the case of an 81-year-old male with progressive quadriparesis attributed to cervical OLF. RESULTS: Most patients with cervical OLF are Asian, with Caucasians constituting the second most frequently impacted population. CONCLUSIONS: Cervical OLF is typically reported in the Asian, followed by the Caucasian population, and is most often found in the thoracolumbar spine. Here we presented an 81-year-old male with cervical OLF contributing to quadriparesis.