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Low back pain and ochronosis

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Summary

We have examined the presentation of low back pain in three patients with ochronosis, and have reviewed the literature. Low back pain and/or stiffness is the first presenting feature and usually appears after the age of 30. Discolouration of the ear is almost always present. Characteristic radiographic changes in the lumbar spine include calcification of the intervertebral discs and lucencies in the discs. The process gradually extends to the entire spine.

Résumé

Les auteurs étudient la lombalgie de l'ochronose à partir de trois cas personnels et de la revue de la littérature. Les douleurs lombaires et la raideur sont les premiers symptômes de cette maladie, ils apparaissent habituellement après l'âge de trente ans. La décoloration de l'oreille est quasi constante. Les modifications radiologiques du rachis lombaire associent la calcification des disques intervertébraux à des zones claires au niveau de ces disques. Progressivement, la maladie atteint la totalité de la colonne vertébrale.

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Sakkas, L., Thouas, B., Smyrnis, P. et al. Low back pain and ochronosis. International Orthopaedics 11, 19–21 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00266053

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