A histopathologic study on the supraspinous in patients with ligament flavum ossification of the thoracic spine

Objective:To investigate the essential association among the ossification of different spinal ligaments.Methods:Specimens of supraspinous ligament taken from 7 patients with the ossification of ligament flavum of the thoracic spine were studied histopathologically.Results:Numerous fibrocartilaginous cells were found in the enlarged and swollen collagen fibers.Stained with toluidine blue,the tissues were characterized by an intense metachromsia.Conclusion:It suggests that the supraspinous ligaments in the patients with ossification of the ligament flavum also have an obvious tendency of ossification.Some common factors which caused ossification of ligment flavum may be responible for the tendency.Therefore,to those patients with ossification of one spinal ligament,whether the other ligaments are involved should be noticed. Authors address Institute of Orthopaedics,Xijing Hospital,The Fourth Military Medical University,Xian,Shanxi,710032