Progressive Destruction of the Ist Lumbar Vertebral Body Caused by Rheumatoid Involvement: A Case Report

We reported a sixty-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis in whom involvement of the Ist lumbar vertebra occurred. She had a history of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis for 24 years. Low back pain attacked her and it increased gradually, and she felt too painful to sit on bed for few minutes. Radiograph showed a progressive destructive lesion in L1 and myelography did almost complete obstruction at the L1 level. An anterior decompression with interbody fusion from Th12 to L2 was performed. At operation, granulation tissue was found in L1 body and histological examination of it showed chronic non-specific granulomatous inflammation.Five months after operation, low back pain had settled and she was able to sit on bed easily.