Disorders of the thoracic spine: Non-disc lesions

Published on 10/03/2015 by admin

Filed under Orthopaedics

Last modified 10/03/2015

Print this page

This article have been viewed 1081 times

Disorders of the thoracic spine

Non-disc lesions

Chapter contents

Introduction

Warning symptoms and signs

Pathology: see the online content

Introduction

Non-disc lesions of the thoracic spine comprise the following disorders:

• Extradural haematoma

• Spinal cord herniation

• Spinal canal stenosis

• Vertebral fracture

• Chest deformities

• Fracture of a transverse process

• Spinal infections

• Lateral recess stenosis

• Localized lesion of costovertebral and costotransverse joints

• Localized lesion of a facet joint

• Paget’s disease.

Very often, the signs and symptoms of the non-discal lesions of the thoracic spine resemble those of discodural disorders.

Some of the lesions mentioned are serious and even life-threatening. Therefore examiners must be on their guard and should immediately request further investigation whenever there is doubt about the exact diagnosis.

Warning symptoms and signs that warrant the examiner’s attention are listed here and are summarized in Box 28.1.

Related

A System of Orthopaedic Medicine