[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 modifications occur within a few days or weeks. The etiology is unknown.

CASE

In the following we present a case of LAS with a segmental dysfunction 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 passive motion of the lumbal spine into the plane of resistant.

CONCLUSION

LAS is rare and slightly known among orthopedists. Knowledge of the typical morphological modifications will lead to diagnosis. In most of the cases further diagnostic measures are not necessary. We recommend a segmental investigation of the spine in the case of secured diagnosis.