LUMBAR SPONDYLOLISTHESIS

LUMBAR SPONDYLOLISTHESIS IS THE FORWARD SLIP OF ONE VERTEBRA TO ANOTHER. THIS IS USUALLY FOUND IN THE LUMBAR REGION. SPONDYLOLITHESIS IS DESCRIBED ON ITS DEGREE OF SEVERITY. G-1 25% OF THE VERTEBRAL BODY HAD SLIPPED. G-2 50%, G-3 75%, G-4 100%, AND G-6 THE VERTEBAL BODY HAS COMPLETELY FALLEN OFF.

PEOPLE AFFECTED BY LUMBAR SPONDYLOLISTHEIS ARE USUALLY INVOLVED WITH VERY PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES. EXAMPLES OF THIS WOULD BE WEIGHTLIFTING, GYMNASTICS, AND FOOTBALL.

SYMPTOMS OF LUMBAR SPONDYLOLISTHESIS INCLUDE LOW BACK PAIN, INCREASED LORDOSIS, PAIN THE LEGS. THESE SYMPTOMS CAN LEAD TO AN ALTERED WALK AND STANCE.

TEST USED TO DIAGNOSE SPONDYLOLISTHEIS ARE XRAYS. IF SPONDYLOLITESIS IS SEEN, THEN A POST-MYELOGRAM CT IS PERFORMED. THIS CT EXAM WILL EVALUATE THE STRUCTURE OF THE SPINE AND THE CONTRAST ENHANCED IMAGES WILL SHOW IF THE AFFECTED VERTEBRAE ARE PRESSING ON NERVES.

TREATMENT IS DEPENDANT ON THE SEVERITY OF THE SPONDYLOLISTHESIS. TREATMENT CAN RANGE FROM REST, TO WEARING A BRACE, TO SURGERY. IF SURGERY IS PERFORM, HARDWARE IS USED TO PULL THE VERTEBRAL BODY BACK INTO ALIGNMENT. CAGES ARE ALSO PLACED IN THE DISC SPACE.

Thoracic Disc Herniation

Herniation of a disc occurs when the nucleus pulposus leaks out of the inside of the disc. The disc then pushed into the spine cord. This is usually caused by trauma to the upper back, or degenerative disc disease.

Symptoms of a thoracic disc herniation usually include upper back pain. This pain can radiate into the arms, chest, and belly.

Pain radiographs will not show a disc herniation. A MRI is the most useful study to show a herniated disc. If a MRI is contraindicated, then a post-myelogram CT should be done.

Most thoracic disc herniations can be treated without surgery. Rest, medication, and strength exercises are most often prescribed. Surgery is only done if the herniation lead to myelopathy or intolerable pain.