Although gouty arthritis is a common metabolic disorder, and the gouty tophi may
be deposited in the joints and juxtaarticular connective tissue, its affliction of the
axial spine is relatively rare. We present therefore a rare case of lumbosacral
extradural spinal gout. The patient had a long history of peripheral polyarticular
gout without regular medical control. The clinical manifestation was subacute left
radiculopathy which mimicked an infectious process. Surgical decompression was
performed and the histopathological examination showed tophaceous gout
deposition. The clinical, radiological and pathological features are discussed. If a
gout patient develops symptoms indicative of spinal cord compression, spinal gout
should be included in differential diagnosis.