see also:

• acute thoracic back pain in the adult
• ankylosing spondylitis (AS)

• Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis is a degenerative condition of the thoracic spine in older adults characterized by undulating “osteophytic-like” bone formation along the anterior longitudinal ligament and sometimes the posterior longitudinal ligament, which may lead to partial or complete fusion of adjacent spinal levels.
• usually found in people in their 60s and above
• extremely rare in people under age 50 yrs

• essentially unknown cause
• may be related to:
  • long term mechanical issues
  • dietary factors
  • use of some medications (e.g. isotretinoin, etretinate, acitretin and other vitamin A derivatives)

• most are asymptomatic
• back stiffness in flexion and extension
• may cause chronic thoracic back pain which is usually mild and may be worse in the morning
• similar calcification and ossification may be seen at peripheral entheseal sites, including the shoulder, iliac crest, ischial tuberosity, trochanters of the hip, tibial tuberosities, patellae, and bones of the hands and/or feet
• rarely, large anterior cervical spine osteophytes may affect the oesophagus or the larynx and cause pain, dysphagia or even dyspnea and may cause lung infections

• supportive care
• simple analgesics
• physical therapies may help