Multiple Osseous Loose Bodies Associated with Lumbar Isthmic Spondylolisthesis

Rare radiculopathy from an osteochondral loose body: a case report and literature review

Lumbar radiculopathy is usually caused by nerve compression due to herniated disc material or compression by degenerative pathology such as enlarged facet joints, thickened ligamentum flavum or synovial cysts. We report the case of a 48-year-old female with L5 sciatica due to an osteochondral loose body in the foramen. This is only the third reported case of a single osteochondral loose body in the lumbar spine and the first reported case found in the foramen.

Potential utility of anti-TNF drugs in synovial chondromatosis associated with ankylosing spondylitis

We describe a previously unreported association of ankylosing spondylitis with synovial chondromatosis, and briefly review previously reported cases and treatment of synovial chondromatosis in patients with other immune-mediated inflammatory arthritides. A 20-year-old man with ankylosing spondylitis whose axial disease was in remission with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and oral disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs developed recurrent right knee pain and swelling. Magnetic resonance imaging of his right knee revealed calcified loose bodies, suggestive of synovial chondromatosis. While waiting for the surgical intervention and other invasive therapy previously reported in patients with synovial chondromatosis, a trial of etanercept eliminated the pain and swelling of the knee; however, the loose bodies have persisted during the 2-year follow-up. Thus, synovial chondromatosis should be considered in the differential diagnoses of a refractory monoarticular pain and swelling in patients with otherwise controlled inflammatory arthritis. Our report advocates a trial of anti-tumor necrosis factor drugs, which might delay the need for invasive therapy in patients with synovial chondromatosis.

Multiple Loose Bodies in the Lumbar Facet Joint: Case Report

We describe here a patient diagnosed with multiple loose bodies in the lumbar facet joint. The patient was a 52-year-old woman who presented with left sciatic pain. Neurological findings indicated L5 radiculopathy. Radiological findings revealed lateral recess stenosis at the L4–L5 level, and loose bodies in the left L4–L5 facet joint were noted that compressed the left L5 nerve root. We performed laminotomy at the left L4–L5 level, and removed five loose bodies located on the dorsal side of the ligamentum flavum. Following removal of the loose bodies and flavectomy, the L5 nerve root was decompressed. Postoperatively, the patient’s symptoms improved markedly. Symptomatic multiple loose bodies in the lumbar facet joint are very rare, and can cause lumbar radiculopathy. It is important for spine surgeons to recognize this pathology.

Osteochondral loose body: an unusual cause of lumbar spinal stenosis

Lumbar spinal stenosis is most often a degenerate condition observed in the older population. We describe the case of a lady with typical claudicant symptoms with an unusual cause of stenosis identified at the time of her decompressive surgery. On review of the literature this is only the second case of osteochondral loose body as a cause for lumbar spinal stenosis and thus remains a rare phenomenon.