Journal of Spine

Melorheostosis: A Rare Cause of Scoliosis?

Abstract

Bekir Yavuz Ucar, Meric Enercan, Mehmet Fethi Ceylan, Sinan Kahraman, Ahmet Alanay and Azmi Hamzaoglu

Background: To report a case with melorheostosis in the spine associated with scoliosis deformity. To the best of our knowledge, there was no reported case about melorheostosis causing spinal deformities in recent literature.

Methods: This report reviewed the patient`s medical record, her imaging studies and related literature

Results: A 13-year-old male patient was taken to an orthopaedic clinic by his family three years ago due to low back pain. Patient diagnosed with scoliosis as a result of direct examination and radiographs. When the patient applied to our clinic he was taking analgesic for his pain. The patient was reported frequent episodes of back pain in recent times. He became unable to continue to play his routinely sportive activities. His family was very disturbed and anxious. Spine radiographs showed a slight scoliosis from the T4 level to the T10 level. CT scan demonstrated abnormalities of both bone density and contour in the lumbar spine. Lesions of melorheostosis were consistent with the hyperostosis seen on the CT images. We found melorheostosis causing scoliosis in the patient. We offered detailed information about melorheostosis to the patient and family. Analgesics were regulated and follow-up plans were drawn. The family was very relieved.

Conclusion: Melorheostosis is a rare mesodermal disease and one of the developmental diseases of bone density. The majority of cases describe skeletal abnormalities confined to a single limb, most predominantly the lower extremity. Involvement of and limitation of melorheostosis to the spine is rare. There was no reported case about melorheostosis causing scoliosis in recent literature. Spine surgeons should be alert in terms of pathologies, such as melorheostosis which may cause painful deformities of the spine.

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