Study design: Single case report.
Objective: To report the observation of multiple lumbar pedicle fractures in a patient with osteopetrosis.
Summary of background data: Osteopetrosis is characterized by osteoclast dysfunction, impaired bone resorption, and poor bone remodeling. As a result, the bone is brittle but hard and is referred to as "marble bone disease." Although long bone fractures are relatively common, fractures of the spine are rare. Spondylolysis has been reported in the cervical and lumbar spine, and pedicle fractures have been reported in the cervical spine. We report the case of a patient with autosomal dominant osteopetrosis with multiple lumbar pedicle fractures. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no previous reports of multiple lumbar pedicle fractures in osteopetrosis.
Methods: A 73-year-old woman, with a known history of osteopetrosis, presented with acute nonradiating low back pain following a bout of coughing. The lower limb neurology and bladder and bowel function were normal. The imaging findings, clinical course, and treatment are discussed.
Results: Initial computed tomography scans of the patient revealed the presence of multiple pedicle fractures with spondylolysis. The patient was advised bed rest for the first 3 days, and when the acute pain subsided, she was permitted to ambulate with a lumbosacral corset. The patient was asymptomatic for 8 months, when she was readmitted with another episode of acute low back pain. The CT scan revealed fresh fracture of the L4 pedicle, which was not seen on the previous scan. The pain settled down again with conservative measures.
Conclusion: This case report discusses the rare occurrence of multiple lumbar pedicle fractures and pars interarticularis (spondylolysis) fractures in a patient with osteopetrosis.