Recurrent spinal stenosis caused by tophaceous gout: a case report and review of literature.

A 57-year-old man with severe gouty arthritis for over 20 years was admitted because of persistent back and leg pain and neurogenic claudication. Lumbar spinal stenosis from the L4 to L5 level was diagnosed after admission and decompressive laminectomy was done. However, about 10 months later, another surgery with laminectomy of L2 and L3 and postero-lateral fusion was performed due to post-laminectomy instability with recurrence of stenosis. The pathology of the resected ligmentum flava had tophi deposition. At the one-year follow-up examination after the second operation, the patient was pain free and had resumed daily activity.