[Osteoporotic vertebral fracture with spinal cord compression]

Osteoporotic vertebral fractures with neurologic complications are rarely reported in the literature. We report a case of a 66-year-old woman who developed an osteoporotic fracture of T6 followed one month later by spinal cord compression without aseptic vertebral osteonecrosis. Diagnosis is based on magnetic resonance imaging and examination of vertebral biopsy specimens. After reviewing the literature, we stress some features: the osteoporotic vertebral fractures does not have any particularity compared to the uncomplicated form; the neurological complication occurs progressively and belatedly; the usual mechanism is the recoil of one of posterior vertebral corners.