Alkaptonuria‐Associated Changes in Disc Degeneration: A Case Report. Issue 4 (11th November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gruber, Helen E.; Hanley, Edward N.
• Is Part Of: JBJS case connector. Volume 5:Issue 4(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-11-11
• Subjects: Orthopedic surgery -- Case studies -- Periodicals; Orthopedic surgery -- Periodicals; Orthopedics; Orthopedic Procedures; Orthopedic surgery; Periodicals; Electronic journals; Case studies; Periodicals; 616.7
• DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.O.00080
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2160-3251

Abstract

Abstract : Case: : A thirty‐nine‐year‐old man with alkaptonuria presented with low back pain. Imaging demonstrated lumbar scoliosis, extensive irregularities of end‐plate vertebral margins, and Thompson Grade‐V disc degeneration. Six months later, the patient returned with a herniated L2‐L3 disc. Minimally invasive disc surgery was performed, and harvested disc tissue showed marked extracellular matrix changes and ochronotic pigment deposits. Conclusion: : Scattered previous literature is available regarding disc changes in alkaptonuria. Although rare, alkaptonuria appears to severely impact the disc as reflected by cellular and matrix inclusions that contribute to disc‐cell pathology.