Spontaneous symptomatic pseudoarthrosis at the T11-T12 intervertebral space with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis: a case report

We report on a 69-year-old male who had severe back pain due to spontaneous symptomatic pseudoarthrosis at the T11-T12 intervertebral space with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis. To describe a rare clinical entity and successful treatment by spinal fusion with a 4-year follow-up. There have been a few reports of spontaneous symptomatic pseudoarthrosis of an intervertebral space associated with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, but there have been no reports of surgical treatment for this clinical condition. Plain radiographs of the patient, who was admitted to our hospital with severe back pain but no history of trauma, revealed manifestations of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis and a pseudoarthrosis at the T11-T12 intervertebral space. Posterior instrumentation from T9 to L2 and anterior bone grafting at the T11-T12 intervertebral space were performed. The patient has been followed for 4 years and is currently asymptomatic. A rare case of spontaneous symptomatic pseudoarthrosis at the T11-T12 intervertebral space with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis was treated successfully by spinal fusion.