Spinal degeneration

Introduction Nearly a hundred years of medical research have shown that when the development of the intervertebral disc is completed, the degeneration of the human body begins. The spine is the longitudinal axis of the human body. It supports body weight and dominates the physiological activities of the trunk including extension, flexion, and flexion. Under normal circumstances, the spine is the most prone to chronic strain in the human body. In addition to the age factor, spine degeneration has a certain relationship with innate development, work nature, labor intensity, and especially trauma. In acute trauma, the injured spine will degenerate in advance or accelerate. The older the age, the cervical vertebra hyperplasia, intervertebral disc degeneration and ligament calcification also increased. Acute injury to the spine and chronic strain can lead to local advancement or accelerated degeneration.

Cause

In addition to the age factor, spine degeneration has a certain relationship with innate development, work nature, labor intensity, and especially trauma. In acute trauma, the injured spine will degenerate in advance or accelerate. The older the age, the cervical vertebra hyperplasia, intervertebral disc degeneration and ligament calcification also increased. Acute injury to the spine and chronic strain can lead to local advancement or accelerated degeneration.

an examination

Related inspection

Spinal MRI examination of bone and joint soft tissue CT examination

The degeneration of the spine is most common in the lumbar spine, followed by the cervical spine, which is relatively rare. Bone hyperplasia, degeneration of the spinal disc is the most common pathological change.

Spinal degeneration can be divided into three phases. The first phase is the dysfunctional phase, which occurs between the ages of 15 and 45 and is characterized by peripheral and radial tears of the intervertebral disc and localized synovitis of the facet. This stage of patients mostly showed lumbar pain, mainly with dull pain and pain. Examination can reveal disc herniation and even protrusion. The second phase is the unstable phase, seen in patients aged 35-70. In this stage, patients with intervertebral disc tear, progressive absorption, articular process degeneration accompanied by joint capsule relaxation, subluxation and articular surface destruction. Examination can reveal disc herniation, prolapse, instability of the spine, spinal stenosis and even degree I slip.

The third phase is a stable phase, occurring in the elderly over the age of 60, characterized by progressive hypertrophy of the bone around the disc and facet joints, resulting in segmental stiffness or obvious rigidity. This patient is mainly characterized by the symptoms of spinal stenosis. The pain in the spine is obvious, especially the change in body position is obvious pain, and the walking function is obviously affected. If the walking is less than 300 meters, the pain is unbearable, and it is necessary to stop and rest to partially relieve. .

The age distinction between these three stages is not absolute. Under the influence of many incorrect postures, living habits and mental states, many relatively young patients may enter the next course of the disease.

Differential diagnosis

Some spine degeneration does not produce the corresponding symptoms and diseases:

Normal intervertebral disc degeneration can lead to narrowing of the intervertebral space, and the intervertebral foramen gradually change from elliptical to round. Since the nerve root is not damaged, it is asymptomatic, which is a healthy elderly. Degenerative changes in the spine do not cause disease as long as the spine remains in a normal or still compensable position. The size of each person's compensation range is related to the innate condition. Clinically, the spine is thick, the spine and the intervertebral foramen are wide, and the dislocation of the vertebrae is asymptomatic when it is light. When the body is slender, the spine is unstable and the muscles are weak, and the dislocation is mild, and symptoms may occur.

Bone hyperplasia, posterior longitudinal ligament calcification and intervertebral disc bulging can occupy a certain space in the spinal canal, but if it is still within the compensation range, it will not cause disease. If intervertebral instability or even dislocation occurs, the ligamentum flavum can be made. When wrinkles are formed, or the upper and lower vertebral bodies are dislocated to form a bony stenosis, the compensation range is smaller than normal at this time, so the clinical symptoms are heavier when the degree of dislocation is the same. The degeneration of the spine is most common in the lumbar spine, followed by the cervical spine, which is relatively rare. Bone hyperplasia, degeneration of the spinal disc is the most common pathological change.

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