Spine

The Canadian C-Spine Rule is an assessment tool that is used to rule out the presence of traumatic cervical spine injury in patients who are not high risk for the injury and are alert and awake. This is done to remove the need for cervical spine radiography. What is the need for Canadian C-Spine rule? […]

Odontoid fractures are fractures of dens or odontoid process of the axis vertebra or C2. Dens is a strong, tooth-like process projecting upwards from the body of the axis. Odontoid fractures account for 10-15% of all cervical fractures. These are the most common fractures of the axis vertebra and the most common cervical spine fracture […]

The swimmer’s view is a lateral X-ray of the cervicothoracic junction that helps demonstrate the upper thoracic and seventh cervical vertebrae (C7/T1 junction). It is an important view for evaluating the relationship between the cervicothoracic junction and upper thoracic vertebrae C7 through T3. The swimmer’s view X-ray is difficult. Its positioning is difficult and requires […]

Kyphosis is a condition of the spine that causes curvature to be concave on the anterior side and convex on the posterior side. It is also called round back or Kelso’s hunchback. It could be postural or can result from degenerative diseases such as arthritis, developmental problems, most commonly Scheuermann’s disease, osteoporosis with compression fractures […]

Sciatica bothersomeness index, as the name suggests, is an index based on patients reporting of symptoms which reflects the troubled patient is going through with his/her sciatica symptoms. Sciatica, as we know, is radiating pain in the lower limb due to compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve roots or lumbar nerve roots. Contained in […]

The term spondylolisthesis  is derived from the Greek spondylos, meaning “vertebra,” and olisthenein, meaning “to slip.” Spondylolisthesis is defined as the anterior or posterior slipping of one segment of the spine on the next lower segment. This slippage causes mechanical or radicular symptoms or pain and can occur due to a range of causes that […]

Sacral agenesis is a congenital condition characterized by the absence of the variable portion of the caudal portion [lower end] of the spine. It is a very rare deformity. Sometimes, the lumbar spine is variably absent, called lumbosacral agenesis. Sacral agenesis can occur as an isolated condition or as part of caudal regression syndrome in […]

Also called atlantoaxial rotatory fixation, atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation is a condition where there is a fixed rotation of C1 over C2. This condition occurs when normal motion between the atlas and axis becomes limited or fixed spontaneously or following minor trauma [which is usually the case]. It can also or follow an upper respiratory tract […]

Atlanto-occipital fusion or Occipitalization of the atlas [C1 vertebra]is the most common congenital abnormality of the upper cervical spine. It means partial or complete congenital fusion between the atlas and the base of the occiput. Other names for atlanto-occipital fusion are occipitalization, occipitocervical Synostosis, assimilation of Atlas. The severity ranges from a complete bony fusion […]