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Updated: Jul 10, 2025
Modified Posterior Vertebral Column Resection for Patients with Thoracolumbar Kyphotic Deformity
Published on: September 16, 2022
Gout-Induced Cervical Deformity and Progressive Myelopathy Mimicking Infection Requiring Cervical Reconstruction
Philip K Louie1, Rakesh Kumar1, Steven Ruhoy2
1Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Neurosciences and Spine, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Background:
This study describes a rare case where gout, a condition primarily associated with joint inflammation, initially manifested as a progressive cervical kyphotic deformity, mimicking infection and causing myelopathy. The patient, a previously healthy 56-year-old woman, presented with severe jaw pain and a temporomandibular joint abscess, alongside 2 months of worsening balance and arm/hand tingling. Extensive clinical and radiographic assessments revealed a severe cervical kyphotic deformity with bony erosion at multiple vertebral levels, raising suspicion of an infectious cause of compressive myelopathy.
Methods:
The patient underwent an urgent staged surgical intervention involving multilevel cervical decompression and fusion, coupled with cervical deformity correction.
Results:
Post surgery, she received antibiotics for 7 days, during which pathologic analysis unveiled collections of macrophages reacting to urate crystal deposition in a pattern consistent with gouty tophus. This unexpected diagnosis marked a novel case of undiagnosed gout-induced severe cervical deformity presenting with myelopathic symptoms and successfully managed through cervical spine deformity correction.
Conclusions:
This report underscores the significance of considering gout as a potential cause when encountering unusual spinal pathologies, especially in cases where gout-related symptoms are atypical. The presented 540-degree surgical approach effectively addressed both the cervical deformity and gout-induced myelopathic symptoms. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first documented instance of a patient with undiagnosed gout-induced severe cervical deformity successfully treated through cervical spine deformity correction, emphasizing the importance of vigilance and innovative management approaches in such rare clinical scenarios. As of the 2-year follow-up, the patient exhibited significant symptom improvement and overall well-being.
