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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment of Human Brucellar Spondylodiscitis
Published on: May 23, 2021
Skeletal dissemination in Paget's disease of the spine
Tim Rolvien1,2, Sebastian Butscheidt1, Jozef Zustin1,3
1Department of Osteology and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Lottestr. 59, 22529, Hamburg, Germany.
Purpose:
Paget's disease of bone (PDB) is a common skeletal disorder that is associated with locally increased bone turnover, skeletal deformity and pain. We report a case of skeletal dissemination in PDB of the spine.
Methods:
Case report.
Results:
A 46-year-old former professional athlete suffered from disseminated PDB throughout the spine and hips after various surgical interventions including spondylodesis, bone grafting and bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP-2) administration. Only intravenous zoledronic acid prevented the further progression of skeletal dissemination, which was expressed by a normalization of (bone-specific) alkaline phosphatase levels. The biopsy obtained from the lumbar spine confirmed the diagnosis of PDB in the absence of malignant transformation.
Conclusions:
We outline skeletal dissemination as a possibly surgery-related complication in a patient with PDB in the lumbar spine. Bisphosphonates remain the treatment of first choice in PDB and surgical interventions should be considered very carefully.
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