title: Fluorosis... causing paraplegia... mutilating life...
abstract: Fluorosis is thought to be rare in Pakistan but endemic in various parts of the world, especially in India and China. In Pakistan only a few cases have been reported from Thar, Sibbi and Manga Mandi, with probability of fluorosis on MRI findings, supported by high drinking waterfluoride content. Neurological manifestations of skeletal fluorosis may vary from radiculo-myelopathy to neuropathy. A case of 26 years old female from Thul, Sindh, who presented with paraplegia, is reported here. Her MRI showed extensive classical degenerative changes throughout the spine, consistent with fluorosis, leading to cord compression at multiple levels. No such case with confirmed fluorosis has been previously reported from Pakistan.
authors.affiliation: Medical Unit II, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi.
authors.forename: Tasnim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ahsan
authors.affiliation: Medical Unit II, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi.
authors.forename: Rakhshanda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jabeen
authors.affiliation: Medical Unit II, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi.
authors.forename: Saba
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hashim
authors.affiliation: Medical Unit II, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi.
authors.forename: Zeenat
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bano
authors.affiliation: Medical Unit II, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi.
authors.forename: Subheen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghafoor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011859:Radiography / Q000379:methods; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D005459:Fluorides
keywords: Fluorosis, Paraplegia.