Association of SARS-COV2 and lumbar spine fractures: causal or coincidental?

Abstract Introduction : Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a pandemic respiratory condition caused by coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The clinical spectrum encompasses several manifestations ranging from asymptomatic to deadly forms. Bone fragility may occur in Covid-19. However, the exact mechanism is yet to be elucidated. Objective : We reported a case of lumbar spine osteoporotic fracture in a 53 year-old man complicating the course of Covid-19. Results : Our patient developed four days after COVID-19 infection low back pain. Imaging reveled osteoporotic vertebral fractures. The patient did not have any risk factor for osteoporosis, neither did he have metabolic or endocrine disease. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine was performed one month prior to the COVID-19 infection and did not reveal any fracture site. Conclusion : Our case suggests that patients with COVID-19 are at high risk for bone fragility and warrants further rearch into the risk of osteoporosis in these patients.