Orthotopic liver transplantation has greatly improved the survival of patients with descompensated liver disease. This success has been accompanied by significant morbidity from late musculoeskeletal complications, especially osteopenic bone disease with atraumatic fracture and avascular necrosis. In liver transplant recipients, the young age, the presence of hepatic osteopenia, and the use of immunosuppressive therapy are major concerns. There is no effective therapy for preventing or treating posttransplant osteopenia. We report a 16-year-old patient with a liver transplantation, that developed symptomatic vertebral fractures. We have done a literature review, studying the different causes of osteoarticular complications after liver transplantation.

Orthotopic liver transplantation has greatly improved the survival of patients with descompensated liver disease. This success has been accompanied by significant morbidity from late musculoeskeletal complications, especially osteopenic bone disease with atraumatic fracture and avascular necrosis. In liver transplant recipients, the young age, the presence of hepatic osteopenia, and the use of immunosuppressive therapy are major concerns. There is no effective therapy for preventing or treating posttransplant osteopenia. We report a 16-year-old patient with a liver transplantation, that developed symptomatic vertebral fractures. We have done a literature review, studying the different causes of osteoarticular complications after liver transplantation.