title: Spontaneous symptomatic pseudoarthrosis at the T11-T12 intervertebral space with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis: a case report.
abstract: METHODS
  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.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe a rare clinical entity and successful treatment by spinal fusion with a 4-year follow-up.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient has been followed for 4 years and is currently asymptomatic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A rare case of spontaneous symptomatic pseudoarthrosis at the T11-T12 intervertebral space with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis was treated successfully by spinal fusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gifu University, School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan. Kei@bg8.s0-net.ne.jp
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.forename: Katsuji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Rieko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arimoto
authors.forename: Yasumichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishimoto
authors.forename: Hirotaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kodama
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hosoe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D004057:Hyperostosis, Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011542:Pseudarthrosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D016896:Treatment Outcome