HomeAnswersSpine Surgeryligamentum flavum

How bad is a ligamentum flavum injury?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I have a C4 spinous process fracture with ligamentum flavum focal disruption at C4 and C5. I have been in a Miami J collar for seven weeks now and have had varying information regarding my problem from different doctors. Despite saying six weeks initially and having an X-ray showing good healing of the bone, I have been told another four weeks are needed to allow the ligamentum flavum to heal.

  1. Does it sound right?
  2. How bad is a ligamentum flavum injury?
  3. Will I likely recover in full with no ill effects?

Please help.
Answered by Dr. Anuj Gupta

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Anuj Gupta is an Orthopedic Surgeon who is specially trained in spine surgery. He completed his MBBS from The Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore, and MS in Orthopedics at Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical College, Kanpur. He did his DNB at Chatrapathi Shahu Ji Maharaj University. Currently, he is working in Triveni Ortho and Spine Center, Delhi, with work experience of 13 years. He has also done short training in spine surgery from the University of California, San Francisco, and Mount Sinai hospital, New York. He has also completed a fellowship in pediatric orthopedics from a renowned hospital in the USA.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern. You have sent us the MRI (attachment removed to protect the patient’s identity) report.

Will it be possible for you to send MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) films, because that will be more informative for me and help me answer your query better?

Please let me know if I can assist you further.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Thanks for your reply.

I have attached the link. I could not download, so have have screen recorded as I scrolled through the images. I did not bother with the brain images. I forgot to mention that only pain experienced is when yawning, as well as a little pain when sleeping on one side, as I often wake up in this position. The sleeping pain is isolated to the right side of the neck and is minor.

Please help.

Answered by Dr. Anuj Gupta

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Anuj Gupta is an Orthopedic Surgeon who is specially trained in spine surgery. He completed his MBBS from The Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore, and MS in Orthopedics at Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical College, Kanpur. He did his DNB at Chatrapathi Shahu Ji Maharaj University. Currently, he is working in Triveni Ortho and Spine Center, Delhi, with work experience of 13 years. He has also done short training in spine surgery from the University of California, San Francisco, and Mount Sinai hospital, New York. He has also completed a fellowship in pediatric orthopedics from a renowned hospital in the USA.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern. I have seen the video sent by you (attachment removed to protect the patient’s identity). Thanks for sharing. There is an injury to your posterior ligamentous complex, which is considered an unstable injury. The ligaments and soft tissue take time to heal, and usually, in such cases, we try to manage operatively. In your case, I can tell you my course of action. Every doctor has a different line of treatment. I suggest you get a dynamic X-ray of the cervical spine under supervision, and if it is found to be unstable, I might suggest that you get it operated on.

I hope this helps.

Please let me know if I can assist you further.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Anuj Gupta
Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team
Published At June 9, 2022
Reviewed At November 13, 2025

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Anuj Gupta is an Orthopedic Surgeon who is specially trained in spine surgery. He completed his MBBS from The Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore, and MS in Orthopedics at Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical College, Kanpur. He did his DNB at Chatrapathi Shahu Ji Maharaj University. Currently, he is working in Triveni Ortho and Spine Center, Delhi, with work experience of 13 years. He has also done short training in spine surgery from the University of California, San Francisco, and Mount Sinai hospital, New York. He has also completed a fellowship in pediatric orthopedics from a renowned hospital in the USA.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Anuj Gupta
Dr. Anuj Gupta

Spine Surgery

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Anuj Gupta is an Orthopedic Surgeon who is specially trained in spine surgery. He completed his MBBS from The Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore, and MS in Orthopedics at Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical College, Kanpur. He did his DNB at Chatrapathi Shahu Ji Maharaj University. Currently, he is working in Triveni Ortho and Spine Center, Delhi, with work experience of 13 years. He has also done short training in spine surgery from the University of California, San Francisco, and Mount Sinai hospital, New York. He has also completed a fellowship in pediatric orthopedics from a renowned hospital in the USA.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality
Listen to related tracks in our music library

Related Questions

Do we need surgery for intervertebral disc displacement?

Why is the pain recurring even after disc herniation surgery?

What are the ways to strengthen my ankles?

Had PCL surgery before five weeks. When can I walk without support?

Comprehensive Second Opinion

Read answers about:

ligament injuryligamentum flavummri spine

Ask your health query to a doctor online

Spine Surgery

*guaranteed answer within 4 hours

Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.