Acute collapse of thoracic vertebral bodies after long-term steroid treatment in leprosy.

Prolonged steroid therapy may produce sufficient osteoporosis to permit collapse of a vertebral body. Decompressive laminectomy and aggressive postoperative therapy can give gratifying results. One can postulate whether these results are related in any way to the protective effect of the steroid being taken during the time of the collapse of the vertebral bodies.