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Spontaneous ligamentum flavum hematoma in the lumbar spine

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Abstract

Lumbar or sacral nerve root compression is most commonly caused by intervertebral disc degeneration and/or herniation. Less frequently, other extradural causes may be implicated, such as infection, neoplasm, epidural hematoma, or ligamentum flavum pathology. We present the case of a patient with spontaneous ligamentum flavum hematoma compressing the L4 nerve root, without antecedent trauma. Although exceedingly rare, the diagnosis of ligamentum flavum pathology in general, and that of ligamentum flavum hematoma in particular, should be considered on those rare occasions when the etiology of lumbar or sacral nerve root compressions appears enigmatic on radiological studies. Usually surgical treatment produces excellent clinical outcome.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Israel Spine Center at Assuta Hospital, 62 Jabotinsky Street, 62748, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Ory Keynan, Yossi Smorgick, Ely Ashkenazi & Yizhar Floman

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel

    Yossi Smorgick

  3. Department of Radiology, Section of Neuroradiology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel

    Allan J. Schwartz

Authors
  1. Ory Keynan
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  2. Yossi Smorgick
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  3. Allan J. Schwartz
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  4. Ely Ashkenazi
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  5. Yizhar Floman
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Correspondence to Yossi Smorgick.

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Keynan, O., Smorgick, Y., Schwartz, A.J. et al. Spontaneous ligamentum flavum hematoma in the lumbar spine. Skeletal Radiol 35, 687–689 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-005-0945-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-005-0945-4

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