Spinal epidural lipomatosis

Epidural lipomatosis is an uncommon disorder defined as a pathologic overgrowth of normal epidural fat. It is most often associated with administration of exogenous steroids of variable duration and dose. However, it can occur in the absence of exposure to steroids. We report two cases of spinal epidural lipomatosis following more than 20 years of steroid use due to asthma. Pathologic compression fracture due to osteoporosis and acute cord compression syndrome were found in these 2 cases. After emergent decompressive laminectomy and fusion surgery, neurological function recovered. From a review of literature, most patients received decompressive laminectomy surgery. But in our additional cases, we performed decompressive laminectomy and fusion surgery which might prevent further spinal deformity and improve the spinal stability, then patients' symptoms subsided completely. Therefore, decompression surgery and fusion surgery may be necessary in patients with symptomatic spinal epidural lipomatosis with compression fracture.