Multilevel posterior neural arch fractures of the lumbar spine: a rare complication due to prior malignant infantile osteopetrosis.

Abstract

Osteopetrosis is a heterogeneous group of inheritable bone disorderswhich manifest themselves as increased bone density and brittleness that leads to pathologicalfractures and bone deformities. Despite the propensity of patients to present with pathologicalfractures, there have been few reports of the spine being affected until now. We present the case of a 23-year-old man who had previously had malignant infantile autosomal recessive osteopetrosis and complained of chronic back pain for several months. We found multilevel (L1-L5) neural arch stress fractures. While single-level spondylolysis is not rare among young adults, multilevel fractures of neural arches in the lumbar vertebrae are suggestive of bone anomalies such as osteopetrosis. Fractures of the neural arch should be considered as a type of fracture that can occur more specifically in patients with osteopetrosis.