Journal of Medical Case Reports, 2017 · DOI: 10.1186/s13256-017-1252-0 · Published: March 1, 2017
Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is typically considered a harmless condition with few symptoms. However, in rare instances, it can lead to neurological issues that require surgery. These neurological complications arise when the ossification process in DISH affects vertebral ligaments, leading to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligaments and/or ossification of the ligamentum flavum. This case report presents a unique instance of thoracic spondylolisthesis with spinal cord compression in a patient with DISH, a condition not previously documented in medical literature. The patient experienced significant improvement after neurosurgical intervention.
This case highlights a rare and previously unreported complication of DISH, expanding the understanding of its potential neurological consequences.
The successful surgical intervention demonstrates a viable treatment option for patients with DISH experiencing spinal cord compression due to spondylolisthesis.
Clinicians should consider DISH as a potential underlying factor in patients presenting with spondylolisthesis and spinal cord compression, particularly in the thoracic region.