Block vertebra
Last revised by Mostafa El-Feky on 20 Nov 2022
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Kyle S, El-Feky M, Knipe H, et al. Block vertebra. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 07 Dec 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-14807
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rID:
14807
Article created:
29 Aug 2011, Sam Kyle
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Sam Kyle had no recorded disclosures.
View Sam Kyle's current disclosuresLast revised:
20 Nov 2022, Mostafa El-Feky ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Mostafa El-Feky had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Mostafa El-Feky's current disclosuresRevisions:
23 times, by 16 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures
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Synonyms:
- Block vertebrae
Block vertebra is a type of vertebral anomaly where there is a failure of separation of two or more adjacent vertebral bodies. It is an anatomic variant.
Pathology
In a block vertebra, there is partial or complete fusion of adjacent vertebral bodies.
Associations
- hemivertebrae/absent vertebra above or below block level and with posterior element fusion
- fusion of multiple cervical vertebral bodies is also seen in Klippel-Feil syndrome
- VACTERL association
Radiographic features
- combined vertebrae may be of normal height, short, or tall
- disc space is frequently rudimentary or absent
- the "wasp-waist sign" may be seen in congenital block vertebrae 4
References
- 1. Leivseth G, Frobin W, Brinckmann P. Congenital cervical block vertebrae are associated with caudally adjacent discs. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2005;20 (7): 669-74. doi:10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2005.04.006 - Pubmed citation
- 2. Kumar R, Guinto F, Madewell J, Swischuk L, David R. The Vertebral Body: Radiographic Configurations in Various Congenital and Acquired Disorders. Radiographics. 1988;8(3):455-85. doi:10.1148/radiographics.8.3.3380991 - Pubmed
- 3. Dähnert W. Radiology Review Manual. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. (2011) ISBN:1609139437. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 4. Nguyen VD, Tyrrel R. Klippel-Feil syndrome: patterns of bony fusion and wasp-waist sign. Skeletal radiology. 1993;22 (7): 519-23. Pubmed
Incoming Links
Articles:
Cases:
- Diastematomyelia type I
- Diastematomyelia type I
- Block vertebra - thoracic
- Block vertebra - C2/3
- Diastematomyelia - type II
- Diastematomyelia type 1
- Blake's pouch cyst
- Block vertebra
- Block vertebra
- Vertebral segmentation defects
- Congenital L3-L4 vertebral body fusion
- Block vertebra (MRI)
- Diastematomyelia - type I
- Block vertebra
- Far lateral lumbar disc protrusion
- Crossed fused renal ectopia
- Block vertebra
- Block vertebrae
- Klippel-Feil syndrome with sprengel deformity
- Situs ambiguus and sacral agenesis
Related articles: Anatomy: Spine
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osteology
- vertebrae
- spinal canal
- cervical spine
- thoracic spine
- lumbar spine
- sacrum
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anatomical variants
- vertebral body
- neural arch
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- ossicles
- ossification centers
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suboccipital muscle group
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spinal cord
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white matter tracts (white matter)
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- anterolateral columns
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dorsal columns
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