Intervertebral disc calcification

Introduction to intervertebral disc calcification Spinal intervertebral disc calcification is not uncommon in clinical practice. It is more common in lumbar vertebrae and thoracic vertebrae. However, it is relatively rare in children with cervical vertebrae and occurs in children. Therefore, patients with cervical X-ray should pay attention to this disease. Because the disease can be self-healing, and the onset period is short, there is no trace left on the X-ray film after recovery. Therefore, the actual incidence is more than that of the clinical diagnosis. Since the 1970s, the author has more than 100 Case of diagnosis and treatment experience. basic knowledge The proportion of sickness: 0.01% Susceptible people: no specific population Mode of infection: non-infectious complication:

Causes of intervertebral disc calcification

(1) Causes of the disease

The true cause of the disease is unclear, and it is difficult to have access to materials, so its pathological changes are mostly speculation.

(two) pathogenesis

The occurrence of this disease is related to spinal trauma, blood supply obstruction and infection. It occurs in preschool children, neck, chest and lumbar vertebrae. It is more common in the neck section with neck 3~4 and neck 4~5.

Intervertebral disc calcification prevention

1. Partial brakes in addition to violent activities in patients with sputum, can be used in the neck and lumbar segments can be braked for 3 to 5 weeks.

2. Symptomatic treatment, as appropriate, with analgesics and oral anti-inflammatory drugs.

Intervertebral disc calcification complications Complication

Generally no complications.

Symptoms of intervertebral disc calcification common symptoms pharyngeal foreign body sensation spinous process tenderness fatigue calcified intervertebral disc degeneration hypothermia

1. Symptoms vary depending on the condition. There are a variety of complaints. Children in the neck mainly feel neck pain and discomfort, especially at night. They may be accompanied by abnormalities such as general malaise and inconvenience, occasionally swallowing. Foreign body sensation, the incidence of chest and lumbar segments in the early complaints are rare, and some of them have more complaints about sinus nerves.

2. In addition to partial tenderness in some cases (the cervical segment is more common in the neck 3 and the neck 4 spinous processes, the thoracic segment occurs in the upper thoracic segment), generally no positive findings, a few cases may have low fever and other systemic symptoms .

Intervertebral disc calcification

About half of the cases had a slight increase in white blood cells, and the rate of blood cell sedimentation increased slightly.

On the cervical vertebrae or chest, lumbar vertebrae, lateral X-ray film can clearly show the calcification shadow of the intervertebral disc, which is obvious in the central area, mostly single, more than half of which is located in the neck 3~4 or upper thoracic intervertebral space. No significant changes, calcification shadows disappeared within weeks to months, CT or MRI examinations were performed as appropriate.

Diagnosis and differentiation of intervertebral disc calcification

diagnosis

1. The main complaint may have multiple complaints depending on the condition. Children in the neck mainly feel neck pain and discomfort, especially at night, which may be accompanied by abnormalities such as general malaise and inconvenience, occasionally swallowing. Foreign body sensation, the incidence of chest and lumbar segments in the early complaints are rare, and some of them have more complaints about sinus nerves.

2. In addition to partial tenderness in some cases (the cervical segment is more common in the neck 3 and the neck 4 spinous processes, the thoracic segment occurs in the upper thoracic segment), generally no positive findings, a few cases may have low fever and other systemic symptoms .

3. Imaging examination on the cervical vertebra or chest, lumbar vertebrae, lateral X-ray film can clearly show the calcification shadow of the intervertebral disc, with the central area obvious, mostly single, more than half of the neck 3 ~ 4 or upper thoracic intervertebral space There was no significant change in the height of the intervertebral space. The calcification shadow disappeared within weeks to months, and CT or MRI was performed as appropriate.

Differential diagnosis

1. Intervertebral space infection The characteristics of this disease are as follows:

(1) medical history: more common in neck surgery, rare blood-borne.

(2) Features: It occurs in adults, and children are rich in blood supply, which is rare.

(3) systemic symptoms: more obvious, mainly inflammatory reaction, and local pain in the cervical vertebrae, activity is significantly limited.

(4) X-ray plain film: the shadow of the anterior fascia is widened, the intervertebral space is uneven and whitish, and the intervertebral space becomes narrow and gradually disappears, and finally the bone fusion is formed.

(5) MRI examination: it is helpful for the early diagnosis of this disease.

2. Eosinophilic granuloma is more common in children's neck, easy to be confused, but the pathological changes of the disease in the vertebral body, the intervertebral space has no obvious changes, so it is easy to identify.

The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments.