Epidural Lipomatosis and Associated Spinal Stenosis-The Impact of Weight Loss: A Case Report

Am J Lifestyle Med. 2017 Jan 12;11(6):511-514. doi: 10.1177/1559827616686764. eCollection 2017 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Lumbar stenosis is a common radiographic finding that sometimes can be symptomatic. It usually results from a degenerative process of hypertrophic facets, ligamentum flavum hypertrophy, and disc involvement. A prominence of fat in the epidural space, epidural lipomatosis, can also be a contributing factor. This case report presents a 55-year-old man with radiographic improvement of epidural lipomatosis and stenosis from dietary weight loss. Given the rising obesity epidemic, practitioners should be cognizant of epidural lipomatosis and consider weight loss as a possible treatment option.

Keywords: back pain; complementary therapies; lipomatosis; spinal stenosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports