Prevertebral space is a space in the neck region defined by the anterior part of the cervical spine and the deep layer of the deep cervical fascia running between the transverse processes of the spine. It is one of the deep neck spaces. There are two others namely retropharyngeal space and danger space. Anatomy of […]
Spine
What Is Open Mouth View X-ray?
An open mouth view x-ray is a special view to visualize upper cervical spine problems and is especially useful to assess C1 and C2 vertebrae integrity in acute injuries. It provides anteroposterior visualization of these vertebrae. Open mouth x-ray is necessitated in cases one wants to visualize C1 and C2 as the routine anteroposterior cervical […]
Lumbar Spondylosis – Causes, Presentation and Treatment
Lumbar spondylosis as a term refers to degenerative conditions affecting the discs, vertebral bodies, and/or associated joints of the lumbar spine. Spondylosis deformans and lumbar osteoarthritis are other names of lumbar spondylosis. Lumbar spondylosis is a broad term and includes many associated pathologies including spinal stenosis, degenerative spondylolisthesis, and osteoarthritis, and also captures effects of […]
Cervical Spine Clearance In Adults and Children
Cervical spine clearance refers to the confirmation of the absence of cervical spine injury in a patient of trauma. It is part of the evaluation of a trauma patient. Cervical injuries are found in about 4 percent of blunt trauma patients. All trauma patients are said to have cervical injury unless proven otherwise. Therefore cervical […]
ASIA Score or ASIA Impairment Scale for Spinal Injury
ASIA score is the score developed by the American Spinal Injury Association for essential minimal elements of neurologic assessment for all patients with a spinal injury. This is based on scores as assessed by the examiner and is popularly called ASIA score. These minimal elements are strength assessment of ten muscles on each side of […]
Spinal Cord Injury Levels
Spinal cord injury levels can be expressed in many ways and it is important to understand the correlations. This has an important bearing in marking the level of injury and correlating with the anatomy. For example, if an injury occurs at T10-11 vertebral level, it is going to damage her lower thoracic as well as […]
What is Spinal Shock?
Spinal shock is a state of total sensory, motor power loss, and loss of all reflexes for a period after spinal cord injury [complete or near-complete injury]. It is followed by the gradual recovery of reflexes distal to injury with often residual neurological deficits. [Read more about spinal cord injury] It begins within a few […]
Cast Syndrome or Superior Mesenteric Artery syndrome
Cast syndrome is also known as superior mesenteric artery syndrome. It is an uncommon complication in the treatment of orthopedic conditions. It results from obstruction of the third portion of the duodenum due to the narrowing of the angle between the abdominal aorta and superior mesenteric artery. Other names for cast syndrome are Wilkie’s syndrome […]
Coccydynia – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Coccydynia, also called coccygodynia refers to pain in the coccyx region. The term was given by Simpson in 1859. However, the condition has been reported in the literature before that period too. The coccyx is the lowermost part of the spine and is also called the tailbone. One can feel the lower end of the coccyx […]
Spina Bifida- Causes, Types and Management
Spina bifida is a neural tube defect that leads to a congenital defect in the posterior bony wall of the spinal canal [vertebral arch] involving the laminae and spinal cord malformation. The condition has a spectrum of presentation that ranges from incidental finding on x-ray to stillbirth. Spina bifida is most commonly seen in the […]