1 What is ankylosing spondylitis? Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a seronegative inflammatory rheumatic disease that affects the sacroiliac joints, spine, and peripheral joints. Eponyms for AS include Marie-Strümpell disease and von Bechterew disease. AS is a subtype of a group…
1 How are spinal infections classified? Host immune response: Pyogenic versus granulomatous Anatomic location: Vertebral body, disc, epidural space, subdural space, facet joint, paraspinous soft tissue Infectious route: Hematogenous, local extension, direct inoculation Host age: Pediatric versus adult Duration: Acute…
Bone basics—structure, function, and homeostasis 1 What are some major functions of bone? Major bone functions include: Mineral storage (i.e., calcium, phosphorus, magnesium) Protection of internal organs from injury (i.e., brain, spinal cord, viscera) Provide support to the body by…
1 What types of tumors arise in the spine? Primary tumors and secondary tumors. 2 What is the difference between primary and secondary tumors of the spine? Primary tumors of the spine arise de novo in the osseous, cartilaginous, neural,…
Spinal cord tumors 1 How does one describe the anatomic location of a spine tumor? Spine tumors are localized according to the anatomic compartment in which they occur: extradural , intradural-extramedullary , or intramedullary ( Figs. 61.1 and 61.2 ).…
General 1 How does regional spinal anatomy influence the characteristics and distribution of thoracic and lumbar spine fractures? The thoracic and lumbar spinal fractures occur in three distinct anatomic regions: the thoracic (T1–T9), thoracolumbar (T10–L2), and low lumbar (L3–L5) regions.…
Injury classification 1 What are some criteria used to classify subaxial cervical spine injuries? Many different classification systems have been proposed for subaxial cervical spine injuries based on a range of criteria, including radiographic instability, mechanism of injury, and injury…
1 How many traumatic spinal column and spinal cord injuries occur in the united states each year? It is estimated that over 50,000 traumatic spinal column fractures occur per year in the United States. (1) According to the National Spinal…
1 What are the different types of spondylolisthesis and how are they classified? Spondylolisthesis refers to ventral displacement of the proximal spinal column in relation to the distal spinal column. The degree of slip is determined by measuring the amount…
General principles 1 What is the “cone of economy” concept? The concept of the “cone of economy” was introduced by Dr. Jean Dubousset and describes a cone-shaped region extending from the feet upward around the trunk. When the body’s center…