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Schmorl node - acute

Case contributed by Chris O'Donnell
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

An active sports-loving child with 3 weeks of back pain. Otherwise well with normal CRP and white cell count. No fever.

Patient Data

Age: 11 years
Gender: Female

Note: This case has been tagged as "legacy" as it no longer meets image preparation and/or other case publication guidelines.

mri

Herniation of disc material into the superior endplate of L1 with marked surrounding bone marrow edema but no involvement of the T12 endplate and no disc desiccation or edema.

Case Discussion

Major differential, in this case, is endplate osteomyelitis but no T12 involvement. L1 endplate cortex is otherwise intact. Follow-up after 12 weeks of rest (no sport) showed dramatic resolution of the bone marrow edema.

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