A Rare Presentation of a Compression Fracture or a Typical Presentation of Lateral Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome: A Diagnostic Error?

A 78-year-old woman complained of severe pain in the left costal region. Her body mass index was 23.1 kg/m2. Lateral cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome (LACNES) was the suspected diagnosis because the affected area was 2×2 cm and positive for pinch sign. Seventeen days later, the patient again presented with complaints of lower back pain accompanied by back pain upon extending the spine. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine showed a fracture of the vertebral body of T11. We herein discuss our errors in the diagnostic process and critical tactics for avoiding such errors in the future.