Kümmell's disease: a case report and literature review.
METHODS
A case report and literature review of Kümmell's disease.


OBJECTIVE
To describe a case that meets modern criteria for Kümmell's disease and discuss the literature on this.


BACKGROUND
Over 100 years ago, Hermann Kümmell described a condition in which patients sustained a "trivial" trauma, had an essentially asymptomatic period lasting weeks to months, then developed a painful, progressive angular kyphosis. Only with the advent of radiograph technology, and the radiographic demonstration of delayed vertebral body collapse, was this concept felt to be valid. There has been a renewed interest in this as a diagnostic entity.


METHODS
A patient is presented who developed worsening midback pain weeks after a minor fall. He subsequently was found to have T9, and T10 destructive vertebral body lesions.


RESULTS
Only after an extensive workup, including 3 biopsies of the affected area was the diagnosis of Kümmell's disease considered and surgical treatment performed. CONCLUSION.: Delayed vertebral body collapse, i.e., Kümmell's disease, needs to be considered in any patient with recurrent or worsening spinal symptoms. Under-recognition of this condition leads to delayed diagnosis and treatment.
Swartz
Karin
K
Departments of Neurosurgery, University of Kentucky, Chandler Medical Center, Lexington, KY, USA. karin.swartz@uky.edu
Fee
Dominic
D
D000058:Accidental Falls; D001706:Biopsy; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed