Lumbar vertebral body and pars fractures following laminectomy

A 56-year-old alcoholic male incurred L5 vertebral body and bilateral L4 pars fractures with progressive L4 on L5 anterolisthesis following low-energy falls while intoxicated. Recently, he had a L3-S1 laminectomy for lumbar spinal stenosis with claudication. Preoperative imaging and radiographs were negative for pars defects and instability, so an isolated decompressive surgery was performed. Following low-energy falls, his outpatient work-up revealed fractures through the bilateral L4 pedicles and posterior third of L5 vertebral body, with recurrence of axial back pain and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. He underwent revision decompression from L4-S1 and posterior instrumented fusion with transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion performed at each revised level. His axial back pain and radiculopathy improved postoperatively. Instability of a lumbar spine fracture pattern can be due to the remote or prior iatrogenic disruption of the posterior ligamentous complex. Our patient benefitted from surgery and his low back pain was resolved.