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Xray Images of Fracture of D12 With Dislocation D11 Vertebra Over D12

January 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Follwing xrays are of thoracolumbar spine of patient with spinal injury. The patient has fracture of D12 vertebra and dislocation of D11 over D12 vertebra.

Here is the AP view

Fracture of D12 Vertebra With Dislocation of D11-D12

Fracture of D12 Vertebra With Dislocation of D11-D12 AP View

Here is lateral view [Read more...]

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Filed Under: Spine, Spine Injuries, Thoracic-Lumbar Spine Tagged With: , , , , ,

Anteroposterior Xray Of Fracture Dislocation of L1 Vertebra over L2

December 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Xray of 44 years old male with spinal injury showing fracture dislocation of L1 over L2

Anteroposterior View Of Fracture Dislocation of L1 Vertebra over L2

Anteroposterior View Of Fracture Dislocation of L1 Vertebra Over L2

The patient also had associated paraplegia along with bladder and bowel dysfunction

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Filed Under: Musculoskeletal Radiology, Orthopaedic Images, Spine, Thoracic-Lumbar Spine Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Cobb’s Angle

March 10, 2011 By 2 Comments

The original Cobb’s  angle was used to measure lateral curve severity in scoliosis but also has subsequently been adapted to classify deformity in kyphosis.

For evaluation of curves in scoliosis, an anteroposterior radiograph is used.

For measurement, When assessing a curve the apical vertebra [The vertebra most deviated laterally from the vertical axis that passes through the patient's sacrum] is first identified. This is the most likely displaced and rotated vertebra with the least tilted end plate.

The end/transitional vertebra are then identified through the curve above and below. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: A-D, Definitions, Kyphosis, Thoracic-Lumbar Spine Tagged With: , ,

What Is Crankshaft Phenomenon In Scoliosis

March 9, 2011 By 1 Comment

Crankshaft phenomenon occurs in scoliotic when posterior part of the spine is fused.

A solid spinal fusion stopped the longitudinal growth in the posterior elements, but the vertebral bodies continued to grow anteriorly. The anterior growth causes the vertebral bodies and discs to bulge laterally toward the convexity and to pivot on the posterior fusion, causing loss of correction, increase in vertebral rotation, and recurrence of the rib hump.

Thus in cases where there is significant growth potential remaining, the anterior part of the spine grows normally and posterior fused part acts as tethering. This causes the spine to curve and rotate.

This phenomenon of progression of curve and rotation of curve resulting due to linear growth of anterior part of the spine is termed as crankshaft phenomenon. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: Scoliosis, Spine, Thoracic-Lumbar Spine Tagged With: , ,

Rib Vertebral Angle In Scoliosis

March 3, 2011 By 1 Comment

Rib vertebral angle measurement and its significance was brought in by Dr Mehta. Measurement of this angle has an important implication in infantile idiopathic scoliosis as it differentiates between progressive and resolving type of scoliosis.

How To Measure The Rib Vertebral Angle?

  • A line is drawn  perpendicular to the apical vertebral end plate [a]
  • Another line is drawn from the midneck to the midhead of the corresponding rib [b]
Rib Vertebral Angle Difference

Rib Vertebral Angle Difference

The angle formed by the intersection of these lines is the Rib Vertebral Angle or RVA. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: Scoliosis, Spine, Thoracic-Lumbar Spine Tagged With: , , , , ,

Infantile Idiopathic Scoliosis

March 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

A scoliotic curve in patients younger than 3 years is termed as infantile idiopathic scoliosis. This kind of scoliosis is more frequent in boys than in girls, the curves are primarily in thoracic spine and generally convex to the left.

Infantile scoliosis may be progressive, usually increasing rapidly, or resolve spontaneously within a few years with or without treatment.  The resolving type occurs in 70% to 90% of patients.

However, till now it is very difficult to differentiate between the two especially when the curve is mild. There are different observations by different researchers that favor the likelihood of resolving type but there is no certain criteria. These observations are [Read more...]

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Filed Under: Scoliosis, Spine, Thoracic-Lumbar Spine Tagged With: , , , , ,

What Are Types of Scoliosis?

February 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Broadly speaking, there are two types of scoliosis – nonstructural scoliosis and structural scoliosis

Nonstructural Scoliosis

In this type of scoliosis, the spine has a lateral curvature but there is no structural abnormality in the spine. The curvature is in response to habit or a disease process.

The spine is structurally normal with a lateral curvature, no spinal rotation, and no truncal asymmetry.

Types of nonstructural scoliosis:

  • Postural-  This curvature is due to prolonged use of a wrong posture. It resolves when the child is lies down.
  • Compensatory -  It is caused by leg-length discrepancy. There is no rotation of the vertebrae and it usually goes off on sitting.
  • Sciatic This curve results from trying to avoid pain from an irritated sciatic nerve
  • Inflammatory: Here a curvature in the spine is caused by an infective process such as an appendicitis. The body curves in response to the disease or abdominal muscle spasm.
  • Hysterical -  very rare and has an underlying psychological component

Structural Scoliosis

A structural scoliosis is the one that involves both a lateral curvature and rotation of the vertebrae. Most common type is the one where no cause could be found.

Idiopathic Scoliosis

Most common type of scoliosis is idiopathic where the cause is not known. Idiopathic scoliosis is classified based on the age when scoliosis develops. For example in a person less than 3 years old, it is called infantile idiopathic scoliosis.

[Read more...]

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Scoliosis

February 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The term scoliosis  has originated from Greek word  skolios which was used to denote crooked.

Scoliosis is a condition in which a person’s spine has an abnormal curvature from side to side. For definition purpose the deformity should be greater than 10 degrees.

The primary deformity in scoliosis is lateral flexion plus rotation of the involved vertebrae around a vertical axis it. Usually it is associated with truncal asymmetry.

Image Credit:http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/1114.htm

In a normal individual the spine, when viewed from the rear, looks straight. However the spine of an individual with scoliosis may look more like an “S” or a “C”  depending on the direction of abnormal curves.

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Filed Under: Definitions, S-Z, Scoliosis, Spine, Thoracic-Lumbar Spine Tagged With: , ,

Complications Of Spinal Injuries In Thoracic & Lumbar Spine

February 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Injuries to thoracolumbar spine can lead to a variety of potential complications.

Nonsurgical Complications

These complications are not related to surgical procedures and in most cases are related to injury pattern.

Neurological Deficits

Neural deficit is quite a significant problem associated with thoracolumbar injuries. While early neural deficits are following injury to the cord, delayed deficits can be due to  syrinx formation after thoracolumbar trauma. [Read more...]

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Fractures In Osteoporotic Spine

February 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Osteoprosis is a disease of bones that leads to reduction of mineral content in the bone. This results in weakened bones which become  highly susceptible to fracture, even  with trivial trauma. Cancellous bones like spine loose mineral early. Fractures of spine in osteoprostic indviduals  tend to be compression fractures mostly. This is due to progressive collapse of vertebral body.

These osteoporotic compression fractures are  occasionally accompanied by radicular pain and rarely by neurologic deficit.

Presentation

Most of the patients are quite elderly. The  usual presentation is of severe back pain which can be often accompanied radiating pain. Neural deficit is rare. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: Spine, Spine Injuries, Thoracic-Lumbar Spine Tagged With: , , , , ,
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