Percutaneous vertebroplasty as treatment for Kummell's disease

Abstract

We report a case with classic clinical findings and imaging features of Kummell's disease. Kummell's disease is a post-traumatic vertebral body collapse. Initially after the trauma patients are usually asymptomatic but after months they develop a symptomatic and progressive kyphosis of the lower thoracic or lumbar spine. On a conventional radiograph a collapsed vertebral body with a fracture cleft is typical and on MRIT2 weighted images the double line sign is characteristic for Kummell's disease; an increased linear area of hyper-intensity surrounded by an area of low signal. Percutaneous vertebroplasty is an adequate treatment for stabilization of the fracture and pain reduction in patients with Kummell's disease.