Traumatic heart perforation by a D5 osteophyte: a case report.

Osteophytes are bony outgrowths usually found in the context of osteoarthritis and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). Even if they are usually asymptomatic, they may present with complications such as spinal stenosis, myelopathy and radiculopathy. We here present the case of a 56-year-old woman found dead from a homicidal traumatic heart perforation by a D5 osteophyte.