Differential Diagnosis of a Pathological Spine Fracture

A 71-year-old woman with a 10-month history of atraumatic low back pain was referred to physical therapy after an insidious exacerbation of symptoms. Red flags raised suspicions for spinal compression fracture, necessitating the physical therapist to contact her physician and recommend imaging. Radi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy Vol. 48; no. 7; p. 595
Main Authors Bhatt, Priti J, Greenberg, Elliot M, Suh, Brian D
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.07.2018
Subjects
ultrasound imaging
magnetic resonance imaging
cancer
spine
radiography
low back pain
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Summary:A 71-year-old woman with a 10-month history of atraumatic low back pain was referred to physical therapy after an insidious exacerbation of symptoms. Red flags raised suspicions for spinal compression fracture, necessitating the physical therapist to contact her physician and recommend imaging. Radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging were ordered, the latter of which showed an acute fracture at T10, with lesions at T9 and in the liver suggesting metastasis. Following bone scintigraphy and an ultrasound-guided biopsy of a liver lesion, she was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2018;48(7):595. doi:10.2519/jospt.2018.7768.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Case Study-2
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ISSN:0190-6011
1938-1344
DOI:10.2519/jospt.2018.7768