title: 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.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukuta
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hosoe
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Koyo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shirahashi
authors.forename: Katsuji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimizu
mesh_terms: 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