Unusual back pain caused by intervertebral disc degeneration associated with schmorl node at Th11/12 in a young athlete, successfully treated by anterior interbody fusion: a case report.
METHODS
A case report describing thoracic intervertebral disc degeneration and spondylolisthesis associated with a Schmorl node in a young athlete, which was successfully treated by anterior interbody fusion (AIF).


OBJECTIVE
To describe a rare pathologic condition with a clinical outcome of a surgical intervention.


BACKGROUND
Intervertebral degeneration and spondylolisthesis of the lower thoracic spine associated with a Schmorl node in a young athlete has not been reported.


METHODS
A 19-year-old male amateur soccer player presented with severe back pain during motion. This pain was associated with intervertebral disc degeneration, spondylolisthesis, and a Schmorl node at the Th11/12 level. He was surgically treated by AIF.


RESULTS
The AIF resulted in a solid fusion, an improvement in sagittal alignment, and amelioration of symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
The AIF procedure was effective for lower thoracic symptomatic intervertebral disc degeneration and spondylolisthesis associated with a Schmorl node.
Fukuta
Shoji
S
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.
Miyamoto
Kei
K
Iwata
Atsushi
A
Hosoe
Hideo
H
Iwata
Hisashi
H
Shirahashi
Koyo
K
Shimizu
Katsuji
K
D001416:Back Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D012916:Soccer; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult