NBCE Exam 2026 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners

Paget's disease of bone leads to abnormal bone remodeling, resulting in bones that are enlarged but weakened. When this disease affects the lumbar spine, it can lead to a variety of complications. Stenosis, specifically, refers to the narrowing of the spinal canal, which can compress nerves and cause pain or neurological symptoms. In the context of Paget's disease, the abnormal bone overgrowth may lead to an increase in size of the vertebrae, which can subsequently narrow the spinal canal and neural foramina, contributing to lumbar spinal stenosis.

While the other conditions listed, such as fractures, herniated discs, and discitis, can occur in general contexts of spinal pathology, they are not primary complications associated specifically with Paget’s disease. Frankly, while osteoporosis is often a consideration in fractures when discussing potential complications of Paget's disease, stenosis more directly arises due to the nature of the disease’s impact on the structure of the spine. Thus, stenosis is a well-recognized complication stemming from the changes in bone density and structure as a result of Paget's disease in the lumbar spine.