Fracture ostéoporotique de l’apophyse odontoïde révélée par une manipulation cervicale

Osteoporotic vertebral fractures selectively affect the thoracolumbar junction, usually sparing the cervical spine. A 65-years-old woman with documented osteoporotic fractures and chronic alcohol abuse presented with neck pain and occipital neuralgia that started after she suddenly flexed then extended her neck. Following several sessions of cervical manipulation, her pain became more severe, and she was admitted. Imaging studies showed multiple fractures in the dens, C6, and C7. These apparently spontaneous fractures suggested a bone tumor, for which investigations were negative. Osteoporosis was the only identifiable cause. The spinal manipulations probably worsened the lesions; they were performed by a chiropractor who was not a physician and did not obtain cervical spine radiographs before treating the patient. Osteoporosis contra-indicates spinal manipulation at any level, including the cervical spine.     

Tumeur brune rachidienne révélatrice d'une hyperparathyroïdie secondaire : à propos d'un cas

Brown tumor of the spine revealing secondary hyperparathyroidism. Report of a case. — Brown tumors are classic skeletal manifestations of hyperparathyroidism usually seen in severe forms with subperiosteal bone resorption. They are exceedingly rare at the spine. We report the case of a woman on hemodialysis who developed two brown tumors, including one at the spine, as the first manifestations of secondary hyperparathyroidism. There were no neurological manifestations. The clinical and radiological abnormalities resolved after parathyroidectomy preceded by a bisphosphonate infusion to prevent possible spinal lysis progression during the immediate postoperative period. In addition to the location of one of the brown tumors at the spine, unusual features in this case were the explosive onset of hyperparathyroidism and the absence of detectable subperiosteal resorption. We also suggest that bisphosphonate therapy given before parathyroidectomy may be useful in patients with spinal brown tumors.