Endoscopic Resection of Symptomatic Degenerative Repetitive Stress Related Fracture of the Tip of Superior Articular Process. An Unusual Cause of Severe Back Pain: Report of 2 Cases and Technical Note

Neglected stress related fracture of superior articular process fracture leading to disability is not commonly reported. Intravertebral foraminal ligament attachment to superior articular process is well described but its repetitive stress related avulsion injury was not reported. The presence of ab...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hyeun Sung Kim, Pang Hung Wu, Harshavardhan Dilip Raorane, Dong Hwa Heo, Yeon Jin Lee, Kyung-Hoon Yang, Il-Tae Jang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Korean Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Society 2020-04-01
Series:Journal of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and Technique
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Online Access:http://www.jmisst.org/upload/pdf/jmisst-2019-00080.pdf
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Summary:Neglected stress related fracture of superior articular process fracture leading to disability is not commonly reported. Intravertebral foraminal ligament attachment to superior articular process is well described but its repetitive stress related avulsion injury was not reported. The presence of abundant sensory and nociceptive nerve endings around the facet joint can cause significant symptoms in this uncommon condition. We hereby present 2 cases of superior articular process tip fracture. First case is a 53 years old business who presented with intractable chronic back and right gluteal pain for many years worsened with golf games with the diagnosis of nonunion of right L2 superior articular facet and second case is a 74 years old lady who had intractable left buttock and left calf radicular pain with neglected left L5 superior articular facet tip fracture after vertebroplasty treatment on L4 compression fracture; both underwent uniportal endoscopic contralateral approach for decompression and resection of the Superior Articular Process, SAP tip fragment with its attached foraminal ligament with good symptoms relief on one year follow up. Consideration can be made for endoscopic decompression SAP tip fracture in comparison to open decompression or fusion surgery in these symptomatic patients.
ISSN:2508-2043