Osteoporosis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Osteoporosis, including details on symptoms, treatment, prevention, causes.

Spinal cord injury associated with thoracic osteoporotic fracture.

Demir SO, Akin C, Aras M, Köseoğlu F

Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.

This report details a case of sudden neurologic deficit attributable to acute thoracic fractures associated with senile osteoporosis. A 73-yr-old female patient with a history of occasional back pain during the past 4 mos had sudden thoracic vertebral fracture with spinal cord injury. The patient, who had a benign past medical history, had not been evaluated for osteoporosis. Thoracic spine radiographs showed a compression fracture at T8. Thoracic magnetic resonance imaging exposed a compression fracture at T7-T8. She was treated operatively. She was found to have spinal cord injury with American Spinal Injury Association classification C (T7), and she had poor sitting balance. She was discharged in a wheelchair and was administered clean intermittent catheterization every 6 hrs. Six months after discharge, she ambulated with a walker and had spontaneous micturition. Vertebral fractures are a common presentation of senile osteoporosis. The risk of neurologic impairment attributable to vertebral fracture is a rare but potentially severe complication. Besides medical therapy and suitable rehabilitation programs, surgical treatment is an integral part of the management of patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

Published 22 February 2007 in Am J Phys Med Rehabil, 86(3): 242-6.
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