Summary of Key Points Cervical spondylosis is present radiographically in nearly 95% of the population by age 65 years. Intervertebral disc desiccation initiates the cascade of cervical spondylosis. Cervical spine ligaments and joints undergo hypertrophy and osteophyte formation to increase…
Summary of Key Points The Chiari malformations are a spectrum of developmental conditions involving bone and parenchymal abnormalities of the hindbrain and craniovertebral junction. The Chiari I malformation is defined by the anatomic anomaly of cerebellar tonsil descent below the…
Summary of Key Points Small dural defects can lead to devastating neurological disease. Superficial siderosis, spinal cord herniation, spontaneous intracranial hypotension, and segmental amyotrophy represent a continuum of disease secondary to dural deficiencies and can present as distinct pathological entities…
Summary of Key Points Tarlov cysts are common, occurring in 1% to 2% of persons undergoing spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), particularly in the sacrum. Some 10% to 30% are potentially symptomatic. Sacral nerve root compression by the cyst/s can…
Summary of Key Points Congenital and developmental deformities in the cervical spine are rare but clinically relevant; failure to recognize a deformity can result in otherwise preventable neurological injury. As a pediatric patient grows, the movement of the cervical spine…
Summary of Key Points The atlantoaxial joint is the most mobile and the most unstable joint of the body. The round and flat articular surface of the joint allows circumferential movements but makes it susceptible to instability. Apart from the…
Summary of Key Points The etiology of development spondylolisthesis is multifactorial, and involves hereditary, traumatic, biomechanical, growth, and morphological factors. Assessment of global sagittal balance in spondylolisthesis should include a thorough assessment of the alignment of the spine, pelvis, and…
Summary of Key Points Other names include Scheuermann kyphosis (Scheuermann thoracic kyphosis), Calve disease, idiopathic juvenile kyphosis of the spine, and juvenile discogenic disease. Scheuermann kyphosis is the most common cause of hyperkyphosis in adolescents aged 12 to 17 years.…
Summary of Key Points Late-onset scoliosis, or adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), as it has previously been described, is a coronal and rotational deformity that usually presents near puberty. AIS curves with greater Cobb angles are at higher risk of progression…
Summary of Key Points Management of early-onset scoliosis (EOS) requires an understanding of not only spinal deformity but also of the natural history and growth of the spine, thorax, and lungs. Idiopathic EOS is a diagnosis of exclusion and should…