Melorheostosis causing lumbar radiculopathy: a case report and a review of the literature

Abstract

Background context: Melorheostosis is a rare sclerosing bone disorder with a predilection for the appendicular skeleton. Involvement of the spine is infrequent and largely asymptomatic. Surgical treatment for spinal involvement is therefore uncommon with only one reported case of lumbar fusion for painful lumbosacral melorheostosis.

Purpose: We report a case of lumbar melorheostosis causing disabling radiculopathy treated with nerve root decompression.

Conclusions: Melorheostosis of the lumbar spine causing radicular symptoms has not been reported before. Our message from the management of this particular patient is to consider surgical option in symptomatic individuals.

Keywords: Lumbar radiculopathy; Melorheostosis; Nerve root decompression.