Role of major revision spine surgery in recurrent adjacent segment osteoporotic vertebral body fracture: a case report

Study design Case report. Clinical question To report the beneficial effects of kyphoplasty, cement augmentation and extension of posterior instrumentation in a patient with recurrent adjacent segment osteoporotic vertebral body fracture. Methods A 72-year-old lady underwent multiple revision spine surgeries for recurrent adjacent segment osteoporotic vertebral body fracture. Results The patient underwent four surgeries in 6 years: (1) in 2005, posterior lumbar interbody fusion with stabilization (L4–S1) was done; (2) in August 2010, implants from L4–S1 were removed and revised, transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion was done at L2/L3 and L3/L4 along with pedicle screw stabilization from T12–S1; (3) in September 2011, revision surgery was attempted, wherein a kyphoplasty was done at T12 and the stabilization was extended to T4; (4) again in October 2011, a revision surgery was attempted, wherein a kyphoplasty was done at T5 along with stabilization using pedicular screws in the T2 and T3 vertebrae and lateral mass screws in the C6 vertebra. To current date, the patient is stable with good sagittal and coronal balance and walking pain free without support. Conclusion The current case demonstrates the need for posterior spinal reconstruction in osteoporotic vertebral collapse. Cement augmentation and extension of posterior instrumentation are both viable techniques that could be used to improve stabilization in the elderly spine.