Ligamentum Flavum

The ligamentum flavum is a ligament that runs along the back of your spine. It is also called the yellow ligament or the elastic ligament. When you flex your spine as you do when sitting, the ligament becomes stretched. When you extend your spine as you do when you’re standing up, the ligamentum flavum shortens and thickens.

At The Bonati Institute, we see patients with spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal column) who feel symptoms when standing up, but feel relief from their pain when they sit. This is because sitting flexes your spine, stretching the ligamentum flavum and widening the spinal column temporarily. Most of the time, it can be treated with anti-inflammatory medication.

Ossification in Ligamentum Flavum Causing Stenosis

Another condition that we help patients with is ossification. This happens when the ligamentum flavum hardens and thickens, decreasing the size of the spinal canal. Ossification can compress nerves and even cause paralysis. Stenosis and ossification do not always cause direct symptoms. Mostly, pain or numbness occurs when the narrowing spinal structures press on nerve roots.

At The Bonati Institute, we might be able to help with your spinal stenosis or ossification of the ligamentum flavum through surgical intervention. We do this by removing or vaporizing the structures that are adding to the pressure on your nerves. If you have been diagnosed by a specialist who thinks your nerve roots are compressed, we would be happy to take a look at your MRI and determine whether you are a candidate for our services.