Cervical and High Thoracic Ligamentum Flavum Frequently Fails to Fuse in the Midline

Abstract

In conclusion, the present study shows that gaps in the ligamenta flava are frequent at cervical and high thoracic levels but become rare at the T3/T4 level and below, such that one cannot always rely on the ligamentum flavum as a perceptible barrier to epidural needle placement at these levels.