[Cervical myelopathy revealing bone fluorosis].
Bone fluorosis is a rare metabolic disease characterized by massive bone fixation of fluorine. It is seen endemically around phosphate mines in North Africa. Neurologic complications, such as medullar compression may rarely reveal the disease. We report a case of cervical myelopathy due to bone fluorosis causing tetraparesis. Medullar compression was caused by posterior vertebral ligament calcification. Diagnosis was based on the characteristic radiologic aspect, and confirmed by the dosage of serum and urine levels of fluorine. Cervical laminectomy resulted in significant pain improvement, despite persistent motor deficit.
Younes
M
M
Service de rhumatologie, EPS Fattouma Bourguiba, Monastir 5000, Tunisie. mohamed_youn@yahoo.fr
Mahmoud
I
I
Ben Othman
M
M
Zrour-Hassen
S
S
Douki
W
W
Béjia
I
I
Touzi
M
M
Ben Hammouda
M
M
Bergaoui
N
N
Najjar
M F
MF
D002114:Calcinosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005459:Fluorides / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D005459:Fluorides