LIPOATROPHIA SEMICIRCULARIS - AN ORTHOPEDIC DIAGNOSIS

Introduction: Lipoatrophia semicircularis (LAS) represents an isolated fatty atrophy usually located at the lower extremity. The atrophy is circular and painless and usually resolves without therapy. The skin m odifications occur within few days or weeks. The etiology is unknown. Case: In the following we present a case of LAS with a segmental dysfu nction of the third ipsilateral lumbal root of a 43-year-old women. It was possible to provoke a referred pain into the area of atrophy by p assive motion of the lumbal spine into the plane of resistant. Conclus ion: LAS is rare and slightly known among orthopedists. Knowledge of t he typical morphological modifications will lead to diagnosis. In most of the cases further diagnostic measures are not necessary. We recomm end a segmental investigation of the spine in the case of secured diag nosis.