[Camptocormia disclosing Parkinson's disease]

Abstract

Camptocormia is characterised as an extreme bent-forward posture of the trunk that disappears in the recumbent position. On X-ray, trunk flexion appears without vertebral rotation as in scoliosis. The condition is a well-known complication of Parkinson's disease (PD) at the late stage. The authors present the case of a 77-year-old woman affected by severe camptocormia, which appeared and worsened in less than 6 months and hindered gait. Despite no signs of PD, neuro-imaging (DAT-Scan) showed an L-Dopa transducer decrease in putamens. A few weeks later, bradykinesia appeared and the clinical diagnosis of PD became more obvious. L-Dopa improved bradykinesia but did not change the bent-spine posture. A 1-year follow-up showed no other signs of PD other than bradykinesia, but the camptocormia was unchanged.