Regional migratory osteoporosis complicated by surgical treatment: Case report

Introduction: Regional migratory osteoporosis (RMO) is an uncommon self-limiting disease characterized by migrating arthralgia involving the weight-bearing joints of the lower limbs, appearing on imaging as migrating bone marrow edema associated with osteoporosis. Case: We describe a shank and ankle RMO case, probably aggravated by surgical treatment of the homolateral knee. Discussion: At first, we excluded the presence of thrombosis, superficial or deep infection, neurological pathology and other organic syndrome; then we diagnosed a case of RMO according with the symptoms, the migrating distribution "proximal to distal" and the atraumatic onset. The knee surgical treatment likely aggravated the pre-existent RMO. Conclusion: RMO is an uncommon disease, which is often under-diagnosed.