European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
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Osteoporosis is the most common contributing factor of spinal fractures, which characteristically are not generally known to produce spinal cord compression symptoms. Recently, an increasing number of medical reports have implicated osteoporotic fractures as a cause of serious neurological deficit and painful disabling spinal deformities. This has been corroborated by the present authors as well. ⋯ Surgery is indicated as a primary treatment when neural compression is secondary to pathologic fractures, dislocations, spontaneous epidural hematoma, syringomyelia, platybasia, or sarcomatous transformation. Five classes of drugs are available for the treatment of PD. Bisphosphonates are the most popular antipagetic drug and several forms have been investigated.
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Review Comparative Study
Recognizing and reporting osteoporotic vertebral fractures.
Vertebral fractures are the hallmark of osteoporosis, and occur with a higher incidence earlier in life than any other type of osteoporotic fractures. It has been shown that both symptomatic and asymptomatic vertebral fractures are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Morbidity associated with these fractures includes decreased physical function and social isolation, which have a significant impact on the patient's overall quality of life. ⋯ The disadvantage of DXA use is that upper thoracic vertebrae cannot be evaluated in a substantial number of patients due to poor imaging quality. We truly believe that the that there is a major role for radiologists and clinicians alike to carefully assess and diagnose vertebral fractures using standardized grading schemes such as the one outlined in this review. Quantitative morphometry is useful in the context of epidemiological studies and clinical drug trials; however, the studies would be flawed if quantitative morphometry were to be performed in isolation without additional adjudication by a trained and highly experienced radiologist or clinician.
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The overall frequency of troublesome neck pain is estimated to be about 34%, and it was observed that the frequency of complaints lasting 1 month or longer was higher in women than in men. The prevalence increased with age, with regard to both pain duration and chronic pain. Approximately 14% of a randomly selected population meets the criterion for chronic neck pain: complaints lasting more than 6 months. ⋯ For a diagnosis of radicular and myelopathic syndromes, the functional and neurological examination is enhanced by neurophysiological assessment. Electromyography (EMG) performed with needle electrodes is the oldest method for diagnosing nerve root compression and anterior horn cell syndromes, and is claimed to have no false-positive results. For cervical myelopathy, as a routine examination sensory evoked potentials (SEPs) by stimulation of tibial nerve and motor evoked potentials (MEPs) from the upper and lower extremities are recommended.
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Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) are associated with a series of clinical consequences leading to increased morbidity and even mortality. Early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention is desirable in order to remobilise patients and prevent further bone loss. ⋯ In cases of acute fractures, kyphoplasty has the potential to reduce kyphosis and restore the normal sagittal alignment of the spine. The complex nature of systemic osteoporosis, coupled with the intricate biomechanics of vertebral fractures, leads to a clinical setting which is ideally treated interdisciplinarily by the rheumatologist and spine surgeon.
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Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is a clinical entity that manifests itself due to compression and ischemia of the spinal cord. The goal of treatment is to decompress the spinal cord and stabilize the spine in neutral, anatomical position. Since the obstruction and compression of the cord are localized in front of the cord, it is obvious that an anterior surgical approach is the preferred one. The different surgical procedures, complications, and outcome are discussed here.