Painful Schmorl's node treated by lumbar interbody fusion.
METHODS
A case report of painful lumbar Schmorl's node is presented.


OBJECTIVE
To describe diagnostic evidence and the result of surgical treatment of a rare case of painful Schmorl's node.


METHODS
Niigata, Japan.


METHODS
A 55-year-old housewife was diagnosed with painful Schmorl's node of L3 by discography, which depicted leakage of the contrast medium into the L3 vertebra through a disruption of the central part of the cranial end plate with concomitant back pain. Segmental fusion surgery was performed. Mechanical low back pain of the patient improved just after surgery. Histologic examination demonstrated that fibrocartilaginous tissue herniated through a disruption of the superior end plate and forced into the vertebral spongiosa.


CONCLUSIONS
Painful Schmorl's node can be diagnosed by discography, which demonstrates an intravertebral disc herniation with concomitant back pain. Surgical treatment should be considered in a patient with persistent disabling back pain. When surgical treatment is indicated, eradication of the intervertebral disc including Schmorl's node and segmental fusion are preferable.
Hasegawa
K
K
Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Niigata University Hospital, Niigata Japan.
Ogose
A
A
Morita
T
T
Hirata
Y
Y
D003287:Contrast Media / Q000009:adverse effects; D017586:Diskectomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D003287:Contrast Media