The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol 66, Issue 9 1364-1368, Copyright © 1984 by Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc
Vertebra plana. Long-term follow-up in five patients
E Ippolito, P Farsetti and C Tudisco
Five patients with vertebra plana were followed for twelve to thirty years
after the diagnosis had been made. Histiocytosis X had been the presumptive
diagnosis in all five patients. Their ages at diagnosis ranged from four to
twelve years and at follow-up, from nineteen to forty years. When they were
last seen, none of the patients complained of symptoms related to the
original disease, and the radiographs showed reconstitution of the
vertebral height equivalent to 48 to 95 per cent of normal, with no sign of
osteoarthritis. The best radiographic results occurred in the two youngest
patients, who had involvement of the first lumbar vertebra, whereas the
patient who was oldest at follow-up, with vertebra plana in the ninth
thoracic vertebra, had the worst result. The four patients with just
vertebra plana were treated with a plaster jacket and a brace, whereas the
one with multicentric skeletal involvement had chemotherapy as well as
orthopaedic treatment.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Technorati What's this?
