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Updated: Dec 30, 2025

Intraoperative Ultrasound in Spinal Surgery
Published on: August 17, 2022
Vertebral fracture with muscle hematoma mimicking abscess
Satoshi Yoshikawa1, Ryo Kitamura1, Takeshi Ueda1
1Department of Emergency and General Internal Medicine, Rakuwakai Marutamachi Hospital, 9-7 Jurakumawari-Matsushita-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-8401, Japan.
Abstract:
Vertebral fracture with muscle hematoma is occasionally seen in practice. However, air-containing hematoma mimicking abscess has not been reported. We present an 87-year-old man with back pain after a fall. Computed tomography scan demonstrated vertebral fracture of L1 and low-density lesions with air bubble in the left crus of the diaphragm and left psoas muscle that were verified to be muscle hematoma. Muscle hematoma due to vertebral fracture can present radiological findings similar to an abscess. A characteristic "vertebral body cleft continuity sign" might be useful for differentiating between hematoma and abscess.
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