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Case Reports
. 1999 Jul;14(2):94-7.
doi: 10.3904/kjim.1999.14.2.94.

A case of sternal insufficiency fracture

J K Min  1 , H J Joo, T H Kim, J H Yoo, M S Sung, C S Cho, H Y Kim
Affiliations
Case Reports

A case of sternal insufficiency fracture

J K Min et al. Korean J Intern Med. 1999 Jul.

Abstract

We report a case of insufficiency fracture of the sternum in a 70-year-old female patient with a review of the literature. She complained of sudden onset chest pain and aggravating dyspnea. She has been managed with corticosteroid due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for 15 years. Diagnosis of sternal insufficiency fracture presented with thoracic kyphosis was made on the basis of absence of trauma history, radiologic findings of lateral chest radiograph, bone scintigraphy and chest computed tomography. Thoracic kyphosis and osteoporosis secondary to menopause, corticosteroid therapy and limited mobility due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were considered as predisposing factors of the sternal insufficiency fracture in this patient.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Lateral view of sternum reveals buckling fracture. The upper portion of sternal body was located posterior to the lower portion (arrow).
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Lateral chest radiograph shows compression fractures of T5 and T8. Note osteoporosis and kyphosis throughout the thoracic spine.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Bone scintigraph reveals increased radioisotope uptake at body of sternum around 3rd costosternal area. Upper (2nd) and lower (4th) costochondral junction of both ribs show increased uptakes.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
Chest CT with bone setting image reveals cortical disruption (arrow) and adjacent soft tissue swelling at the posterior aspect of the sternum.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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