Diagnosis and surgical treatment of progressive pseudorheumatoid dysplasia in an adult with severe spinal disorders and polyarthropathy

Abstract

Progressive pseudorheumatoid dysplasia (PPD) is a rare autosomal-recessive disorder. The polyarthritis of PPD has been detailed before. However, the spinal disorder and surgical treatment been rarely mentioned. A 44-year-old patient who has been misdiagnosed as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and given unilateral total hip replacement yet, suffers mainly from severe spinal disorder this time. The platyspondyly, Scheuermann-like lesions of the spine and JRA-like features of the peripheral joints were found on radiographic films, combining negative inflammatory and rheumatoid factors, which most suggested the diagnosis of PPD. As the homozygous nucleotide deletion was found in WISP3 gene, diagnosis of PPD was definite. Neurological examination and further imaging examination indicated severe compression of thoracic and lumbar spinal cord which might lead to his conspicuous spinal disorder. Decompressive laminectomy, posterior fusion and fixation were performed. And an excellent clinical outcome was achieved 1year after the decompression and fusion: leg pain and hypoesthesia resolved and osseous fusion performed. This is the first reported decompression in the adult spine of PPD. Surgical treatment could receive satisfactory result in PPD, however, it is a palliative therapy which has less help to prevent the development of this disease. Early diagnosis and rehabilitation interventions remain the most important. Clinical, radiographic and genetic features in PPD are crucial in the differential diagnosis.