The bent spine syndrome: myopathy + biomechanics = symptoms

The Spine Journal : Official Journal of the North American Spine Society
Andrew J HaigRichard Kendall

Abstract

The bent spine syndrome, which mimics spinal stenosis, is thought to be a focal paraspinal myopathy, but because paraspinal fatigue with ambulation is not a feature of more severe myopathies, the cause of symptoms is not clear. To evaluate electromyographic and biomechanical aspects of the bent spine syndrome. University spine clinic. A patient with severe disability from the bent spine syndrome was compared with a fortuitously discovered asymptomatic research subject with the syndrome, in terms of physical examination, magnetic resonance imaging, and electrodiagnostic testing. Both subjects had fatty paraspinal replacement on magnetic resonance imaging and electromyography. More detailed electromyography of the patient showed abnormalities medially and caudally, but changes including apparent myopathic motor units up to the high thoracic region. The research subject had no hip flexion contracture, whereas the patient had severe contracture. Correction of contracture increased ambulation from 20 to 300 meters. Bent spine syndrome is likely a paraspinal myopathy, but symptoms do not occur unless there is also a hip flexion contracture.

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Citations

Jul 14, 2010·Joint, Bone, Spine : Revue Du Rhumatisme·Michel Laroche, Pascal Cintas
Jul 11, 2009·European Spine Journal : Official Publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society·Arnaud DupeyronJacques Pélissier
Jun 30, 2012·Journal of Medical Case Reports·Jacky T YeungAftab S Karim
Jul 25, 2009·PM & R : the Journal of Injury, Function, and Rehabilitation·Andrew J HaigDouglas Quint
Jul 25, 2009·PM & R : the Journal of Injury, Function, and Rehabilitation·Andrew J HaigHenry Tong
Nov 13, 2013·Revista brasileira de reumatologia·Melina Andrade MattarSamuel Katsuyuki Shinjo
Jun 13, 2020·Muscle & Nerve·Tina D JeppesenChristian Krarup
Dec 3, 2020·Practical Neurology·Waqar WaheedRup Tandan

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