Polyostotic fibrous dysplasia involving the thoracic spine with myelopathy: case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Polyostotic fibrous dysplasia (PFD) seldom involves the thoracic spine and usually presents with back pain.

PURPOSE: To describe an extremely rare presentation of an uncommon disease.

STUDY DESIGN/

SETTING

We present a case report from a university hospital.

METHODS

We report a case of symptomatic thoracic PFD associated with myelopathy and pathologic fracture. A thorough search of PubMed/MEDLINE was performed for the terms "polyostotic fibrous dysplasia," "spine," and "neurological deficit."

RESULTS

The patient was treated by posterior laminectomy, vertebroplasty, and pedicle screw fixation and fusion. Satisfactory results were achieved, and there were no complications.

CONCLUSIONS

In the spine, PFD may lead to pathologic fracture and myelopathy even after adolescence. Vertebroplasty with or without decompression and fixation may be the appropriate option for cases with myelopathy.