Korean J Pain.  2009 Dec;22(3):245-248. 10.3344/kjp.2009.22.3.245.

Conservative Treatment of Thoracic Radiculopathy due to Ossification of the Yellow Ligament in a Young Patient: A case report

• Lim BG
• Kim NY
• Lee MK
• Jung SS
• Lee DK
• Choi SS

• KMID: 1978701
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2009.22.3.245

Abstract

Ossification of the yellow ligament (OYL) is a pathologic condition that causes spinal stenosis, which is a form of ectopic ossification. OYL causes compressive myelopathy and radiculopathy. Although the pathogenesis of OYL is still unclear, diffuse mechanical stresses and degenerative changes caused by extreme ranges of motion may be related to the development of OYL in young sportsmen. Here we report an interesting case of thoracic radiculopathy due to OYL in a 35-year-old male amateur judo player who was successfully treated with continuous thoracic patient controlled epidural analgesia and epidural adhesiolysis.

Keyword

ossification; radiculopathy; yellow ligament

MeSH Terms

Adult
Analgesia, Epidural
Humans
Ligaments
Male
Martial Arts
Ossification, Heterotopic
Radiculopathy
Spinal Cord Compression
Spinal Stenosis
Stress, Mechanical