Anterior vertebral beaking secondary to trauma

Case contributed by Jeremy Jones
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Axial loading trauma with resultant spinal deformity.

Patient Data

Gender: Male

Kyphosis at the thoracolumbar junction with loss of vertebral body height at multiple levels and anterior wedging.

Improvement in appearances at the thoracolumbar junction with apparent healing of the anterior wedging.

Further improvement in appearances with near-normalization of vertebral body height after 5 years.

Case Discussion

Without the history of trauma and the followup imaging that demonstrates healing, the second of these studies has an anterior vertebral body beak that would prompt any pre-exam registrar to real off a list of differentials including Morquio syndrome. Clearly, trauma needs to be on the differential list as well.

How to use cases

You can use Radiopaedia cases in a variety of ways to help you learn and teach.

Creating your own cases is easy.

Updating… Please wait.

 Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.

 Thank you for updating your details.