{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,30]],"date-time":"2026-07-30T09:43:58Z","timestamp":1785404638381,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":6,"publisher":"Open Medical Publishing","issue":"2","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"\n Background<\/jats:title>\n Schmorl\u2019s nodes are herniations of nucleus pulposus through the cartilaginous and bony endplate into the adjacent vertebra. Schmorl\u2019s nodes are extremely common and are typically seen as incidental findings on radiographic imaging. In postmortem studies, it has been estimated that greater than 70% of the population has Schmorl\u2019s nodes. Rarely, however, Schmorl\u2019s nodes can be a cause of acute back pain and, even less often, radiculopathy.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Case Presentation<\/jats:title>\n In the present case, an elderly male presented with an acute onset of lower back pain and radiculopathy. MRI demonstrated a large L3 vertebral body inferior endplate Schmorl\u2019s node with posterior extension through the vertebral body cortex and into the ventral epidural space superiorly. This resulted in severe effacement of the right L2-L3 subarticular recess, as well as the right L3-L4 neural foramen, impinging on the right L3 nerve root. Surrounding cortical edema and enhancement on MRI further suggested an acute Schmorl\u2019s node.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n Although rare, Schmorl\u2019s nodes can be a cause of acute back pain and, even less commonly, radiculopathy. The imaging modality of choice for the diagnosis of a Schmorl\u2019s node is MRI as it has a greater capability to detect edema, neovascularization, and in this case, extruded disc material. In both asymptomatic and symptomatic cases, the mainstay of treatment for Schmorl\u2019s nodes is conservative therapy. Surgical removal of disc material has been successful in cases of persistent radiculopathy from compression by a tunneling Schmorl\u2019s node.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.52965\/001c.33641","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,4,25]],"date-time":"2022-04-25T12:22:06Z","timestamp":1650889326000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Schmorl\u2019s Node: An Uncommon Case of Back Pain and Radiculopathy"],"prefix":"10.52965","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Allyson","family":"Pietrok","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Nebraska College of Medicine"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Christopher","family":"Lee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Creighton University School of Medicine\u2014Phoenix Regional Campus","department":["Department of Internal Medicine"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rachel J.","family":"Kaye","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/012jban78","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"Medical University of South Carolina"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alan D.","family":"Kaye","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Louisiana State University Shreveport","department":["Department of Anesthesiology"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"George","family":"Chesteen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/00thqtb16","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of Nebraska Medical Center","department":["Department of Radiology"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"30777","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,4,25]]},"reference":[{"issue":"3","key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"801","DOI":"10.1148\/rg.2016150223","article-title":"Uncommon manifestations of intervertebral disk pathologic conditions","volume":"36","author":"Felix E. Diehn","year":"2016","journal-title":"Radiographics","ISSN":"https:\/\/id.crossref.org\/issn\/0271-5333","issn-type":"print"},{"issue":"11","key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2115","DOI":"10.1007\/s00586-012-2325-9","article-title":"Schmorl\u2019s nodes","volume":"21","author":"Kwaku A. Kyere","year":"2012","journal-title":"European Spine Journal","ISSN":"https:\/\/id.crossref.org\/issn\/0940-6719","issn-type":"print"},{"issue":"3","key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"441","DOI":"10.14444\/7058","article-title":"Schmorl Node-a cause of acute thoracic pain: a case report and pathophysiological mechanism","volume":"14","author":"ODED Hershkovich","year":"2020","journal-title":"International Journal of Spine Surgery","ISSN":"https:\/\/id.crossref.org\/issn\/2211-4599","issn-type":"print"},{"issue":"1","key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"56","DOI":"10.1007\/bf00298420","article-title":"Schmorl's nodes and low-back pain. Analysis of magnetic resonance imaging findings in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals","volume":"4","author":"K. Takahashi","year":"1995","journal-title":"European Spine Journal","ISSN":"https:\/\/id.crossref.org\/issn\/0940-6719","issn-type":"print"},{"issue":"1","key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.1007\/s10143-013-0488-4","article-title":"Schmorl's nodes: current pathophysiological, diagnostic, and therapeutic paradigms","volume":"37","author":"Tobias A. Mattei","year":"2014","journal-title":"Neurosurgical Review","ISSN":"https:\/\/id.crossref.org\/issn\/0344-5607","issn-type":"print"},{"issue":"43","key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e22792","DOI":"10.1097\/md.0000000000022792","article-title":"Schmorl node induced multiple radiculopathy: a rare case report","volume":"99","author":"Yongjie Chen","year":"2020","journal-title":"Medicine","ISSN":"https:\/\/id.crossref.org\/issn\/0025-7974","issn-type":"print"}],"container-title":["Orthopedic Reviews"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/orthopedicreviews.openmedicalpublishing.org\/article\/33641-schmorl-s-node-an-uncommon-case-of-back-pain-and-radiculopathy","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,11]],"date-time":"2025-02-11T15:08:49Z","timestamp":1739286529000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/orthopedicreviews.openmedicalpublishing.org\/article\/33641-schmorl-s-node-an-uncommon-case-of-back-pain-and-radiculopathy"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,4,25]]},"references-count":6,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.52965\/001c.33641","relation":{},"ISSN":["2035-8164"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2035-8164","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,4,25]]}}}