title: Thoracic spine compression fracture in a patient with back pain.
abstract: A 55-year-old man was referred to physical therapy because of constant mid-back pain of 1 month's duration. Because of the strong suspicion for a fracture, thoracic spine anterior-posterior and lateral radiographs were ordered, which revealed compression deformities of the T6, T8, T9, and T12 vertebral bodies. An interventional radiologist ordered magnetic resonance imaging and believed the patient was a candidate for vertebroplasty, a technique in which medical grade cement is injected into a painful fractured vertebral body in an effort to stabilize the fracture. At 1 week following his vertebroplasty the patient was pain free. Further medical evaluation indicated that the patient had underlying osteoporosis, and treatment was initiated. At 1 and 2 years after vertebroplasty, the patient reported being symptom free. However, a history of osteoporosis and multiple compression fractures led to further medical evaluation 2 years after vertebroplasty and the patient was eventually diagnosed with multiple myeloma for which treated was initiated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, David Grant US Air Force, Travis AFB, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Ryan L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Elliott
mesh_terms: D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty; D011859:Radiography; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*