A rare case of pregnancy and lactation-associated osteoporosis: a case-report

Pregnancy- and lactation-associated osteoporosis (PLO) is a rare disorder of premenopausal women occurring during late pregnancy or lactation, characterized by significant bone loss and fragility fractures, most commonly affecting the vertebrae or hip. Despite its low incidence, PLO is clinically important due to the substantial morbidity associated with acute low back pain, functional limitation, and impaired quality of life. We present a case of a 36-year-old female patient, two months postpartum, who presented with acute low back pain two months after delivery. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed compression fractures, which are commonly associated with osteoporotic involvement. This case highlights the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for PLO in postpartum patients presenting with low back pain, particularly when accompanied by evidence of decreased bone mineral density or atraumatic vertebral fractures.