Bilateral Acute Osteoporotic Lumbar Pedicle Fracture Presenting with Associated Neurological Deficit: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a common cause of vertebral compression fractures. Often times affecting post-menopausal women, these fractures may occur spontaneously or following minor trauma and are typically managed non-surgically. Here we present a case of a 67-year-old patient who presented with acute compression fracture of the lumbar 5 vertebra and bilateral pedicle fractures of the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae following an episode of coughing secondary to tracheitis. She underwent a lumbar 3 to sacral 1/ilium instrumentation/arthrodesis, with screw augmentation via hydroxyapatite, followed by lumbar 4/5 laminectomy and foraminotomy.

Keywords: compression fracture; osteoporosis; pedicle fracture; post-menopausal; radiculopathy.