title: Surgical management in spinal sarcoidosis: case report.
abstract: METHODS
  Case report of a patient with transient paraplegia and spine instability because of sarcoidosis of 2 vertebral bodies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report a rare case of vertebral sarcoidosis accompanied by transient neurologic symptoms and spine instability, and to discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic management.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Vertebral sarcoidosis is a rare condition, and only a few case reports exist in the literature. In most cases, treatment with steroids improves associated neurologic symptoms. Operative intervention is necessary in cases with spinal instability because of progressive vertebral destruction and impending or progressive neurologic deterioration.
  
  
  METHODS
  After steroids therapy and subsequent neurologic improvement, operative treatment by a 2-stage posterior stabilization followed by anterior vertebrectomy and fusion was given to a patient with 2-level vertebral sarcoidosis and residual spine instability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After steroids therapy, the patient had a complete neurologic recovery; satisfactory spinal stability was achieved after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the absence of any spinal instability, neurologic symptoms associated with vertebral sarcoidosis respond satisfactorily to nonoperative treatment with steroids. Progressive neurologic deterioration or spinal instability caused by bone destruction requires operative intervention. Steroids therapy provided neurologic improvement, posterior stabilization combined with anterior vertebrectomy and fusion provided spine stability for the patient in this report.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ospedali Riuniti, Bergamo, Italy. carlinbrembo@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brembilla
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Signorelli
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lamartina
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Biroli