Lumbar decompressive laminectomy is a standard treatment for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis, but in some cases, can lead to iatrogenic spondylolysis and delayed segmental instability. Iatrogenic spondylolysis occurs in most cases in pars interarticularis, but rare cases have also been reported, pediculolysis in pedicle and laminolysis in lamina. Minimally invasive spine surgery (MIS) is known to have a low risk of developing these iatrogenic spondylolyses, and unilateral biportal endoscopy is the MIS that has been drawing attention. We present a case of a 72-year-old female who was diagnosed with L4-5 unstable non-isthmic spondylolisthesis and severe right central disc extrusion 10 weeks after UBE assisted unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression (ULBD) at the consecutive segments of L3-4 and L4-5. Pre-operative imaging studies revealed severe central stenosis without spondylolisthesis at L3-L4 and L4-L5 along with L4-L5 facet tropism. She was managed by anterior lumbar interbody fusion and cement augmented pedicle screw fixation, which resulted in the complete resolution of her clinical and neurologic symptoms.
Focal myositis is a rare disease defined by an isolated inflammatory pseudotumour usually restricted to one skeletal muscle. Approximately, 250 cases of focal myositis have been described in the literature, and two recent large cohorts have been used to help in the diagnosis. Isolated gastrocnemius myositis, a rare immune-mediated condition, is a diagnostic entity used by internal medicine clinician in the gastrocnemius myalgia syndrome associated with Crohn's disease (CD). However, focal myositis and isolated gastrocnemius myositis with Crohn's disease share clinical, haematological, pathological, and radiological similarities. We present a case of unilateral focal myositis of the gastrocnemius muscle in a patient with no underlying diseases, including Crohn's disease. At clinical evaluation, we encountered a challenge in differentiating between focal myositis and the isolated gastrocnemius myositis of Crohn's due to similarities in clinical manifestation. We attempt to clarify focal myositis and isolated gastrocnemius myositis through our case report and a review of literature.