J Korean Soc Spine Surg.  2005 Dec;12(4):375-379.

Thoracic Myelopathy due to Thoracolumbar Kyphosis and Spinal Stenosis in Achondroplasia: A Case Report

• Cha JR
• Ko SH
• Cho SD
• Kim SW
• Park MS

Abstract

Achondroplasia is abnormal intracartilagenous ossification that's caused by a genetic point mutation. Thoracic myelopathy in achondroplasia that is due to thoracolumbar kyphosis and spinal stenosis is a rare finding. There is no report available on this topic in Korea. We report here a case of achondroplasia with thoracic myelopathy due to thoracolumbar kyphosis and spinal stenosis, and we include a brief review of literature.

Keyword

Achondroplasia; Thoracic myelopathy; Thoracolumbar kyphosis; Spinal stenosis

MeSH Terms

Achondroplasia*
Korea
Kyphosis*
Point Mutation
Spinal Cord Diseases*
Spinal Stenosis*

Figure

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  Fig. 1, 2. The simple radiography of spine anteroposterior and lateral view in preoperative state. T12 vertebral body is wedge shape and vertebral Cobb’s angle is 83 degree at level of thoracolumbar junction. Sagittal vertebral axis(SVA) is positive about 4cm in lateral view. Lumbar hyperlordosis coexist with scoliosis and deformity of thoracolumbar spine.

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  Fig. 3. Preoperative MRI (A) T1 Sagittal image, (B) T2 Sagittal image, (C) T2 Axial image(T 11- T12 disc level),(D) T2 Axial image(T12- L1 disc level) There is central spinal stenosis at the level of T11/12, T12/L1 and central spinal stenosis, with bulging disc at the level of L2/3, L3/4, L4/5. The shape of T12 vertebral body is wedge form and short pedicles with bilateral neural foraminal narrowing coexist at lumbar and lower thoracic spines.

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  Fig. 4. The simple radiography of whole spine anteroposterior and lateral view in postoperative state. The Cobb’s angle is decreased to 52 degree at level of thoracolumbar junction. Sagittal vertebral axis(SVA) is corrected to negative 3.6 cm which from posterosuperior corner of S1.

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  Fig. 5. The follow up simple radiography of whole spine anteroposterior and lateral view at 6 months after operation. Cobb’s angle is 50 degree and neurologic symptoms are subsided.

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  Fig. 6. The photography which compared the preoperative state(A) with the postoperative state(B). Back deformity and positional impairment are improved.

Reference

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