Baastrup syndrome

Case contributed by Frank Gaillard
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Back pain

mri

Selected images from an MRI demonstrate marked degenerative change at L3/4 with severe canal stenosis. Posteriorly, the spinous processes are separated by high T2 signal, edema and enhancement consistent with Baastrup syndrome.

Case Discussion

Baastrup syndrome (also referred to as kissing spines) results from adjacent spinous processes in the lumbar spine rubbing against each other and resulting in focal midline pain and tenderness relieved by flexion and aggravated by extension. 

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