Thoracic Myelopathy from Ligamentum Flavum Ossification Due to Fluorosis
Author Information
Author(s): Wang Wenbao, Kong Linghua, Zhao Heyuan, Dong Ronghua, Zhou Jing, Lu Yun
Primary Institution: Tianjin hospital
Hypothesis
Can fluorosis cause ossification of the ligamentum flavum leading to thoracic myelopathy?
Conclusion
Fluorosis can cause ossification of thoracic ligamentum flavum, and en bloc laminectomy decompression is an effective treatment.
Supporting Evidence
- All patients had a long-term history of living in a high fluoride area.
- Urinalysis showed increased urinary fluoride in 60.9% of patients.
- The JOA score increased significantly post-surgery.
Takeaway
Too much fluoride can make some parts of your spine hard and cause problems walking. A special surgery can help fix this.
Methodology
Retrospective study of patients with thoracic OLF who underwent surgery from 1993 to 2003, evaluating clinical features and outcomes.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in patient selection and reporting of outcomes.
Limitations
The study is limited by its retrospective nature and the small sample size.
Participant Demographics
16 male and 7 female patients aged 42 to 72 years, with a mean age of 54.8 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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