Editor-in-Chief: Alaa Abd-Elsayed, MD, PhD
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BACKGROUND: Kümmell’s disease is a rare diagnosis that involves avascular necrosis of the vertebral body after minor injury. Presentation is subtle and there are pathognomonic findings on imaging. Treatment ranges from symptom management to vertebral augmentation to open surgery depending on patient preference. CASE REPORT: We evaluated the case of an 88-year-old woman with a past medical history of scoliosis who presented to clinic complaining severe low back pain with associated neurologic symptoms 2 weeks after a fall at home. Imaging showed avascular necrosis of T12.
CONCLUSIONS: After discussion with the patient, she elected to proceed with a unilateral lumbar medial branch block over vertebral augmentation. Pain scores greatly improved and opioid usage decreased.
KEY WORDS: Case report, Kümmell’s disease, avascular necrosis, medial branch block
