Refracture of Kummell Disease Combined with Huge Epidural Hematoma After Minor Trauma.

BACKGROUND: Kummell disease is defined as avascular necrosis of vertebra, occurs after the delayed posttraumatic osteoporotic vertebral collapse, and mainly occurs in adults older than 50 years of age. We report the first case of refracture of Kummell disease and epidural hematoma followed by paraparesis.

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 67-year-old woman with a known case of osteoporotic T12 fracture (3 months back) visited our outpatient clinic complaining of persistent back pain and paraparesis after jerking while getting up from the bed. Her neurology worsened suddenly in the next 2 days. A physical examination revealed grade 3 power in lower extremities with a lower extremity paresthesia and diminished bilateral knee and ankle reflexes. Urinary retention was also present. A plain radiographic examination of her thoracolumbar spine revealed osteoporotic compression fractures with almost 50% reduction in height of the 12th thoracic vertebra. Magnetic resonance imaging showed dorsal epidural soft tissue mass that caused posterior compression of the spinal cord at the T12-L3 levels. We performed thoracic lateral retropleural corpectomy and cage insertion at T12. Bone cement-augmented pedicle screw fixation was performed at the T10, T11, and L1 levels with laminectomy and decompression of hematoma at the T12, L1, L2, and L3 levels as a stage 1 procedure.

CONCLUSIONS: Although rare, the possibility of refracture of Kummell disease and spinal epidural hematoma should be kept in mind in patients with osteoporotic fractures. Periodic follow-up and treatment are essential for preventing tragic neurologic impairment.