Thoracic Intervertebral Disc Herniation Associated With Chronic Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Use: A Case Report

Overview

Journal Cureus

Specialty Biomedical Engineering

Date 2024 Jul 16

PMID 39011187

Authors

Nathaniel A Cleri

Jason Zhang

Gurinder Singh

Charles B Mikell

Courtney Pendleton

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are relatively cheap and accessible medications, commonly used by athletes and bodybuilders for performance enhancement and muscle growth stimulation. AAS usage has been associated with musculoskeletal injuries, such as tendon and ligament ruptures, and numerous other detrimental health effects. Despite these risks, individuals continue to self-administer these drugs in supraphysiologic doses. Here, we present a case of a male bodybuilder with chronic AAS use who developed a spinal thoracic intervertebral disc herniation requiring decompression and fusion. We use this case to highlight a severe potential risk associated with chronic AAS abuse and review the current literature on the biochemical, physical, and physiologic mechanisms linking chronic AAS use, weight-bearing exercise, and the risk of musculoskeletal injuries such as intervertebral disc herniations.

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