Butterfly vertebra

Background and importance: Butterfly vertebra is an uncommon congenital spinal anomaly, which can be easily mistaken for vertebral fracture, infection or tumor. Clinical presentation: We report the case of a 20-year-old male patient with a 3-year history of intermittent mid-thoracic spinal pain. Loc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inRomanian neurosurgery Vol. 31; no. 1
Main Authors D. Adam, D. Iftimie, Gina Burduşa, Cristiana Moisescu
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London Academic Publishing 01.03.2017
Subjects
butterfly vertebra
congenital vertebral anomaly
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Summary:Background and importance: Butterfly vertebra is an uncommon congenital spinal anomaly, which can be easily mistaken for vertebral fracture, infection or tumor. Clinical presentation: We report the case of a 20-year-old male patient with a 3-year history of intermittent mid-thoracic spinal pain. Local examination showed a mild thoracic kyphoscoliosis. Neurological examination was normal. Computer tomography revealed the presence of a T6 butterfly vertebra associated with morphological anomalies in adjacent vertebral bodies and T6-T9 Schmorl's nodes. MRI scan confirmed the diagnosis and additionally showed a mild spinal stenosis caused by apparent posterior epidural fat hypertrophy. The patient was treated with painkillers and physical therapy. Conclusion: Butterfly vertebra is a benign condition. Once diagnosed, additional diagnostic procedures are not necessary. Neurosurgeons must be aware of this congenital anomaly that should not be confused with a vertebral fracture.
ISSN:1220-8841
2344-4959