1034 - Back pain secondary to Baastrup disease in a patient with a history of multiple trauma: A case report

Friday, February 20, 2026

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM AST

Presenting Author(s)

AM

Andrew J. Maza, MD

Resident Physician
Northwell Health
Manhasset, New York, United States

Co-Author(s)

SB

Stephen Bogh, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
Pennsylvania Hospital / PennMedicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Submitter(s)

AM

Andrew J. Maza, MD

Northwell Health
Mineola, New York, United States

Case Diagnosis: A 75-year-old female with Baastrup disease.

Case Description: A 75-year-old female with a past medical history of factor V Leiden (on Eliquis) and trauma secondary to a motor vehicle collision in 2018 presented with back pain. The pain was transient, worst at night, located in the lumbar spine, began two weeks prior to presentation, and radiated to the left buttock, hip, and groin. The patient endorsed transient numbness and tingling in her left lower extremity. She denied other changes in sensation, saddle anesthesia, bowel or bladder incontinence, fevers, chills, or weight loss. On physical examination, the patient had no spinal or paraspinal tenderness. FABER test was positive for left groin pain, FADIR was negative, and straight leg raise test was negative. Spinal extension was limited due to pain, but range of motion was otherwise normal. There were no neurological deficits. Imaging with lumbar spine x-rays revealed close apposition of hypertrophied spinous processes of L4-L5, consistent with Baastrup disease.

Discussions: Baastrup disease, also known as kissing spine syndrome or interspinous lumbar bursitis, is a degenerative spinal condition often resulting in back pain and characterized by the abnormal close approximation and contact of adjacent spinous processes. Though not uncommon, Baastrup disease has historically been underreported and frequently misdiagnosed and/or mistreated. This has led to unnecessary surgeries, extensive imaging, and ineffectual conservative treatment methods. Treatment options for Baastrup disease include conservative management with analgesics and physical therapy or interventions such as interspinous injections, radiofrequency ablation, and surgical decompression.

Conclusions: Baastrup disease remains an often overlooked cause of low back pain that is not well-known or properly diagnosed and treated by many physicians. This case serves as an example of how increasing awareness of Baastrup disease can help to facilitate appropriate diagnosis and treatment, thereby helping patients to avoid unnecessary workups and chronic pain.