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BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2020

01-12-2020 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging | Case report

Infected Schmorl’s node: a case report

Authors: Hyeun Sung Kim, Harshavardhan Dilip Raorane, Sagar Bhupendra Sharma, Pang Hung Wu, Il-Tae Jang

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

Schmorls node (SN) are mostly asymptomatic and incidental findings on MRI. However, sometimes they present like acute onset low back pain or acute exacerbation of chronic back pain after minor trauma.

Case presentation

We present rare case of symptomatic infected SN in 67 years female patient presented with complains of low back pain radiating to right buttock. After initial conservative treatment failed subsequent imaging showed significant increase in size of lesion with focal signal changes in disc space gave suspicion of underlying secondary pathology. Patient operated for complete excision of lesion. Histopathological report was suggestive of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis. Patient improved well postoperatively.

Conclusion

Most of the time acute SN responds well to conservative treatment; however rapid deterioration of symptoms or persistent severe pain should give suspicion of underlying secondary pathology.
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Metadata
Title
Infected Schmorl’s node: a case report
Authors
Hyeun Sung Kim
Harshavardhan Dilip Raorane
Sagar Bhupendra Sharma
Pang Hung Wu
Il-Tae Jang
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-020-03276-4

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