Osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture causing neurologic deficit.

Osteoporotic vertebral fractures rarely cause neurologic deficits. We discuss a 69-year-old man who presented with the signs of impaired function of the left L5 nerve root. Imaging revealed a fracture of the posterior upper edge of the fifth lumbar vertebra with a bony fragment protruding into the spinal canal. The fracture was attributed to sneezing and coughing in this man with osteoporosis secondary to hypogonadism. Literature search revealed 64 cases of neurologic deficit associated with osteoporotic vertebral fracture. Most osteoporotic fractures with neurologic deficit (72%) occur at the thoracolumbar junction. The symptomatology of girdle-like pain and hypesthesia is not specific and may be misinterpreted as an abdominal problem or renal pain. A typical sign is the slowly progressive neurologic deficit, occurring spontaneously or after minor trauma such as a fall on the buttocks. Surgical treatment confirms the diagnosis and usually leads to remission of the neurologic signs. With increasing frequency of osteoporotic fractures in the developed world because of the expanding elderly population, cases with neurologic problems become more important.