Preoperative ligamentum flavum thickness as a predictor of the progression of postoperative hypertrophy at the cranial adjacent level after posterior lumbar interbody fusion: a retrospective observational study in Japan
Tatsuhisa Takekawa·Tomoaki Kitagawa·Takeshi Oichi·Masanori Hashimoto·Muneyoshi Fujita·Satoshi Miyata·Keisuke Ishii·Takahiro Inui·Hirotaka Kawano·Masahiro Hirahata
Preoperative LF thickness at L2/3 and cranial adjacent facet degeneration predicted postoperative LF hypertrophy progression after PLIF. Both inherent predisposition and mechanical stress may contribute to adjacent-level LF thickening.