title: Interspinous ligament calcification in a collegiate gymnast.
abstract: A 21-year-old collegiate gymnast presented with midline pain at the thoracolumbar junction upon back extension and a "gritty" sensation at that level. Ultrasound revealed an area of hyperechogenicity, representing a calcification, within the interspinous ligament at the area of maximal tenderness at the T12-L1 level. Under ultrasound guidance, multiple fenestrations were made into the calcification and a mixture of lidocaine and triamcinolone was injected. The patient experienced immediate improvement in her symptoms, and resolution occurred during the subsequent 6 weeks; she was able to make a gradual return to gymnastics. Interspinous ligament calcification in a young athlete has not been previously reported.
authors: Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA(∗).
authors: Scott
authors: S
authors: Simpson
authors: Rehabilitation, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, University of Washington and Seattle Children's Sports Medicine, Seattle, WA(†). Electronic address: Bkrabak@u.washington.edu.
authors: Brian J
authors: BJ
authors: Krabak
mesh_terms: D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006173:Gymnastics; D006801:Humans; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000473:pathology*; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D055815:Young Adult