Pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis is a type of spinal infection which may result from direct trauma, spread of infection from adjacent structures or hematogenous spread from distant focus of infection. It can have devastating complications if untreated which could be pathological fracture , epidural infection and compression of the neural structures. Vertebral osteomyelitis is considered uncommon, […]
Spine
IDSA 2015 Clinical Practice Guidelines for Native Vertebral Osteomyelitis in Adults
The guidelines are published by Infectious Disease Society of America. These guidelines include evidence and opinion-based recommendations for the diagnosis and management of patients with native vertebral osteomyelitis treated with antimicrobial therapy, with or without surgical intervention. Native vertebral osteomyelitis in adults is often the result of hematogenous seeding of the adjacent disc space from […]
Back Pain in Children
Back pain in children, as compared to an adult is more likely to have a serious underlying disorder. Back pain in children is often due to organic causes, especially if it persists longer than two months. Up to 85% of children with back pain could have a detectable pathology. Therefore, a careful history and a […]
Pott’s Paraplegia and Qudriplegia or Spinal Tuberculosis with Neural Involvement
Spinal tuberculosis of spine is the most common form of skeletal tuberculosis accounting for 50 percent of osteo-articular tuberculosis. Neural compression in spinal tuberculosis may lead to tetraparesis-tetraplegia or paraparesis-paraplegia. Pathology of Neurological Complications in Spinal Tuberculosis Neurological complication is observed mostly with dorsal spine affection because Most commonly affected Narrow canal Anterior longitudinal ligaments […]
Kyphotic Deformity of Spine in Tuberculosis
Neurological complications (paraplegia or quadriplegia) and spinal deformity are the most dreaded complications of tuberculosis of spine. The sequelae of these two complications affect the quality and span of life. Almost all tuberculosis of spine, even if they are treated well, leave behind some amount of kyphosis in different segments of spine. Persistent spinal deformity […]
Imaging in Spinal Disorders
In modern spine practice, imaging has a pivotal role in diagnosis and treatment of the lesion. In this article we discuss about various imaging modalities of spine disorders. X-rays Conventional plain film radiography initiates the investigation of any suspected spinal pathology. X-ray is the basic investigation not that sensitive albeit. X-ray has a very important […]
Pyogenic Infection of Spine
Pyogenic infection or bacterial infection of the he spine is rare but it has potential for long-term morbidity. About 2-8% of overall pyogenic infection in the musculoskeletal system involves spine. It is more common in males and has a bimodal distribution. Males are more often affected than females. Age distribution is bimodal. The peak of […]
Segmental Instability of Lumbar Spine
Segmental instability is one of the important causes of back pain. When the forces within physiological limits are applied to the spine, the movements occur within specific physiological range, with small person-to-person variations. During spinal movements, the adjacent vertebrae maintain their relationship with each other due to configuration, orientation and integrity facet joints, ligaments and […]
Spinal Dysraphism Types, Presentation and Treatment
Spinal dysraphism is a group of anomalies where there are malformations in the dorsum of the embryo There is often abnormal fusion of the midline embryonic neural, vertebral and mesenchymal structures. The estimated incidence of spinal dysraphism is about 1–3 per 1000 live births. The incidence of the spinal dysraphism is declining in the world […]
Split Cord Malformation or Diastematomyelia
Split cord malformation is an uncommon congenital anomaly in which a segment of the spinal cord is divided into two parts by a fibrous or rigid bony spur. It was previously known as diastematomyelia (diastema = a cleft, myelos = cord). Split cord malformation can involve any part of spinal column and sometimes involve the […]