Articles
Articles are a collaborative effort to provide a single canonical page on all topics relevant to the practice of radiology. As such, articles are written and continuously improved upon by countless contributing members. Our dedicated editors oversee each edit for accuracy and style. Find out more about articles.
742 results found
Article
Hip spine syndrome
Hip spine syndrome is one term used to describe the clinical association between hip osteoarthritis and degenerative lumbar spinal canal stenosis due to overlapping pain distribution.
Clinical presentation
Patients with hip spine syndrome have hip and lumbar spine degeneration and present wit...
Article
MRI classification system for lumbar disc degeneration
Disc degeneration can be graded on MRI T2 weighted images.
Usage
The Pfirrmann grading system is the most widely known classification for intervertebral disc degeneration and is used in both clinical and research capabilities 2,3. The intra- and inter-observer agreement of the Pfirrmann gradin...
Article
Scoliosis surgery (overview)
Scoliosis surgery is indicated when conservative management has failed.
Indications
Cobb angle ≥45º (skeletally immature) or ≥40-50º (skeletally mature) 1,2
progressive scoliosis deformity
spinal functional compromise
pain not responsive to non-operative treatment
pulmonary function compro...
Article
Thoracolumbar spine fracture
Thoracolumbar spine fractures are often the result of significant blunt trauma such as motor vehicle accidents or falling from a height. Fractures in this region range from non-complex to highly complex and will vary in prognosis.
Epidemiology
Males are affected more commonly than females wit...
Article
Flat back syndrome
Flat back syndrome (FBS) refers to the decrease or absence of the normal lumbar lordosis resulting primarily in chronic lumbar pain.
Terminology
Flat back syndrome is a different condition from straight back syndrome and the two should not be confused or conflated.
Clinical presentation
Mos...
Article
Posterior instrumentation and fusion (scoliosis)
Posterior instrumentation and fusion is a surgical technique to improve spinal curvature in scoliosis patients.
Procedure
The vertebral column is manipulated into the desired position and held in place with metalwork namely pedicle screws and/or hooks transfixed with rods with or without in si...
Article
Lumbar disc arthroplasty
Lumbar disc arthroplasty is a procedure involving the replacement of lumbar intervertebral discs with artificial discs to manage lower back pain.
Similar to its cervical counterpart (cervical disc arthroplasty), it is an alternative to fusion procedures as a means of maintaining an increased ra...
Article
Degenerative spinal instability
Degenerative spinal instability is frequent although somewhat controversial clinical entity with evolving theories on its clinical relevance, in particular, its role as a causative factor of low back pain (LBP). While radiographic instability may be evident, this does not always correlate with t...
Article
Spinal instability (overview)
Spinal instability is a broad term with no generally agreed-upon definition but can be thought of the potential for or actual abnormal segmental spinal motion.
Terminology
Spinal microinstability refers to abnormal segmental movement without bony changes 1.
Pathology
Spinal instability is ...
Article
Pyogenic spondylitis
Pyogenic spondylitis refers to infections of the spine which involve the vertebrae, intervertebral disc, paraspinal soft tissue, or epidural space 1,2. It is a broad term that includes vertebral osteomyelitis, spondylodiscitis, and epidural abscess.
This article is a general discussion of pyoge...
Article
Posterior dynamic lumbar stabilization
Posterior dynamic lumbar stabilization is an alternative instrumented method to rigid spinal fusion aiming to improve segmental stability. Purported advantages of this technique include reduced posterior element and intervertebral disc loading reducing symptoms and potentially allowing for disc ...
Article
Vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR) procedure
Vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR) procedure is a surgical technique that was initially developed to treat thoracic insufficiency syndrome and then it was used in congenital scoliosis with rib abnormalities, and has since been successfully used to treat early-onset scoliosis wit...
Article
Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF)
Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) is a commonly performed spinal fusion procedure that can be performed at a single level or multiple adjacent levels.
Indications
See: lumbar interbody overview (overview).
Contraindications
extensive epidural fibrosis
arachnoiditis
infection 3
Proc...
Article
Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF)
Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is a spinal fusion procedure performed as an alternative to posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) when posterior decompression of the spinal canal is not required 1.
Indications
See: lumbar interbody overview (overview).
Contraindications
ext...
Article
In situ contouring
In situ contouring is a surgical technique used in thoracolumbar scoliosis surgery and thoracolumbar fracture reduction and fixation.
Procedure
Thoracolumbar scoliosis surgery
The key of this technique is to " make the rod take the shape of the spine and then to make the spine take the shape...
Article
Oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF)
Oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) is one of several techniques used in lumbar interbody fusion. It provides minimally invasive access to the disc space, passing between the peritoneum and the psoas muscles.
Indications
Indications for the procedure generally overlap with those of LLIF and...
Article
Subluxed facet joint
Subluxed facet joint is the mildest form of facet dislocation in which the ligamentous injury leads to partial uncovering of a facet joint (cf. complete uncovering in perched facet). This results in mild anterior displacement of one vertebral body on another (anterolisthesis).
Article
Translation-rotation spine injury
Translation-rotation spine injuries are severe injuries characterized by horizontal displacement or rotation of one vertebral body with respect to another.
Pathology
These injuries result from torsional and shear forces. This type of injury is usually severe and involves the posterior ligament...
Article
Lordosis
Lordosis (plural: lordoses) is the term used to refer to the normal anterior curvature of the cervical and lumbar spines when viewed from the side (concavity at the posterior aspect of the spine (cf kyphosis). Lordosis cervicis and lordosis lumbalis are the respective Terminologia Anatomica term...
Article
Spinal pia mater
The spinal pia mater (or pia mater spinalis) is the innermost layer of the spinal meninges. In congruence to the cranial pia being closely related to the surface of the brain, the spinal pia is closely related to the surface of the spinal cord.
Gross anatomy
The spinal pia mater is continuou...
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