Young thoracic vertebra diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis with Scheuermann disease:A case report

BACKGROUND Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis(DISH)is a disorder characterised by the calcification and ossification of ligaments and entheses.It is a frequent occurrence in elderly males,but rarely encountered in younger individuals.CASE SUMMARY A 24-year-old male was admitted to the hospital due to low back pain accompanied with numbness in both lower limbs for 10 d.Upon clinical examination and imaging tests,the patient was diagnosed with DISH with Scheuermann disease and thoracic spinal stenosis.Before the operation and medical treatment,the patient had hypoesthesia of the skin below the xiphoid process.Afterward,a standard laminectomy was conducted using ultrasonic bone curette and internal fixation was applied.Subsequently,the patient was given corticosteroids,neurotrophic drugs,hyperbaric oxygen and electric stimulation.As a result of the treatment,the patient’s sensory level decreased to the navel level and there was no major change in the muscle strength of the lower limbs.During follow-up,the patient’s skin sensation has returned to normal.CONCLUSION This case is a rare instance of DISH co-existing with Scheuermann’s disease in a young adult.This provides a valuable reference point for spine surgeons,as DISH is more commonly observed in middle-aged and elder adults.

Radiological imaging findings of scheuermann disease

AIM To find accompanying anomalies of typical and atypical Scheuermann's disease(SD) is reported in the present study. METHODS Study included 20 patients(16 men and 4 women) who had radiological imaging radiography, magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) and computed tomography, if available, due to back pain, curved back and low back pain in November 2011-February 2016 period. Patients were categorized into typical and atypical patterns based on the region involved. Thoracic kyphosis values were measured using real Cobb angle. Accompanying disc degeneration, herniations and spinal cord pathologies were studied using MRI.RESULTS Age of the patients ranged from 11.0 to 23.0(mean 17.2 ± 3.0). Typical pattern of SD were detected in 15 patients while atypical pattern were detected in 5 patients. Cobb angle range was 40.2-67.2(mean 55.5 ± 8.7) in typical Scheuermann's patients and 24.7-49.9(mean 36.7 ± 10.8) in atypical ones. Intervertebral level was affected and had the measures of 3-8(mean 5.3 ± 1.6) and 7-9(mean 8.2 ± 0.8) in typical and atypical Scheuermann's patients, respectively. Level of degenerative disc disease in MRI was 1-7 discs(mean 4.1 ± 1.7) in typical patients and 5-10 discs(mean 7.6 ± 1.9) in atypical patients.CONCLUSION SD can be seen in typical and atypical patterns, typical being more frequent. Because degenerative disc diseases,herniations and cord pathologies such as syringomyelia can accompany SD(albeit more common in atypical pattern), it is necessary to evaluate these patients with plain radiography and MRI together.

Comparison between two types of＂Scheuermann disease-like people＂： thoracolumbar disc herniation patients and healthy volunteers with radiological signs of Scheuermann＇s disease

Background Scheuermann＇s disease （SD） is a spinal disorder and includes both a classic form and an atypical form.Interestingly,its existence among the general population as well as the disc disease patients is common.One of our previous studies showed that about 18％ of the hospital staff members meet the SD criteria.On the other hand,another study has demonstrated that 95.2％ of the symptomatic thoracolumbar disc herniation （STLDH） patients meet the SD criteria,which suggests that STLDH is very likely a special form of SD.The purpose of this study was to discriminate the factors contributing to the development of STLDH by comparing STLDH patients with the healthy SD-like hospital staff members.Methods This is a retrospective study including 33 STLDH patients who met the SD criteria and 30 SD-like hospital staff members.The STLDH group was chosen from a group of patients who underwent surgery after a diagnosis of STLDH （T10/11-L1/2） at our hospital between June 2007 and June 2010.SD-like hospital staff members were chosen from a database created in 2007,which contained a lumbar MR and low back pain （LBP） questionnaire of 188 hospital staff members.The demographic and radiologic characteristics were compared between groups.Results There was no statistical difference in sex,age,and height between the two groups.The STLDH patients had higher body weight,boby mass index,and thoracolumbar kyphotic angle than SD-like hospital staff members.In addition,STLDH patients had more levels of Schmorl＇s nodes （3.5±1.7 vs.2.0±1.9,t=3.364,P=0.001） and irregular endplateson （4.0±1.9 vs.2.7±1.9,t=2.667,P=0.010） compared to the SD-like hospital staff members.Conclusions Higher body weight,higher body mass index,larger thoracolumbar kyphosis,and more Schmorl＇s nodes and irregular endplates on MR may be associated with the development of STLDH in ＂SD-like people.＂