Ligamentum flavum hematoma in the lumbar spine

Sciatica due to lumbar or sacral root compression frequently is caused by lumbar disc herniation, lumbar spinal canal stenosis, tumor, or cyst. Far less common is ligamentum flavum hematoma (LFH). Two patients with LFH reported by Sweasey et al. [1] in 1992 were probably the first described worldwide. These two patients presented signs and symptoms suggestive of lumbar root compression. Since then, some case reports of LFH have appeared [2-27].