Osteochondropathy of the spine

This form of the disease is more common in adolescents aged 11-18 years. Pathology of bone and cartilage tissue occurs due to increased physical activity and nutritional deficiency. Osteochondropathy of the spine most often affects the thoracic region, less often - the lumbar region.

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Causes spinal osteochondropathy

Aseptic necrosis develops due to a disruption in blood supply, but its appearance can also be provoked by other factors:

• High load on the spine, microtraumas.
• Congenital pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.
• Impaired absorption of calcium and vitamins.
• Infectious and inflammatory diseases.
• Hereditary predisposition.

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Symptoms spinal osteochondropathy

Kümmel-Verneuil disease or traumatic spondylitis are the names of aseptic necrosis of the vertebral bodies. Most often, this pathology is diagnosed in young men. Degenerative processes affect the thoracic vertebrae, less often the lumbar region. The disease is based on aseptic necrosis of the spongy substance of the vertebrae. Necrosis develops from trauma, previous infectious or inflammatory diseases, and blood supply disorders.

Symptoms depend on the stage of the degenerative-dystrophic process:

1. Acute trauma stage – the disease develops due to heavy physical exertion or back injury. Acute pain occurs, which may lead to loss of consciousness. The pain syndrome persists for 10-12 days.
2. The stage of the clear interval - this stage lasts from 4-6 months to several years. The patient does not complain of pain or any discomfort.
3. Relapse – after a certain period of time, pain sensations appear again in the affected area, but of lesser intensity. Deformation of the spine is determined at the site of the spinal injury. There is also a protrusion of the spinous process, pain on palpation, and disturbances in the functioning of the muscular system.

The diagnostic process consists of analyzing the results of instrumental and differential studies with clinical manifestations of pathology. X-ray, CT, and MRI are used for diagnostics. Differentiation is carried out with tumor lesions of the spine, post-typhoid spondylitis, and destructive tuberculous spondylitis.

Treatment is aimed at unloading the spine. For this purpose, physiotherapy procedures, wearing a special corset, therapeutic exercises and massage are used to strengthen the muscular system of the back. Medication therapy is used to reduce pain, stimulate the growth of healthy bone tissue and generally strengthen the body.

Osteochondropathy of the cervical spine

One of the varieties of Scheuermann-Mau disease is aseptic necrosis of the cervical spine. Osteochondropathy of this localization is very rare. The main group of patients are teenagers aged 11-18. The pathology is characterized by damage to the discs and vertebral bodies, endplates.

The degenerative-dystrophic process develops due to a disruption of the blood supply to the cervical spine. This occurs with traumatic injuries, hormonal disorders, disruption of local microcirculation, due to heavy physical exertion. Also in medical practice there are cases of hereditary predisposition to this problem.

The disease develops slowly. At the initial stage, there is increased muscle fatigue, mild pain that disappears after a full night's rest. But as the disease progresses, especially during the period of active growth of the patient, the discomfort increases, it becomes difficult to turn and tilt the head. Degenerative changes in the cervical spine are also possible. Treatment depends on the stage of necrosis and its complications. With timely treatment, the pathology has a positive prognosis.

Osteochondropathy of the thoracic spine

Juvenile kyphosis or Scheuermann-Mau disease is an aseptic necrosis of the thoracic spine. This pathology appears during the period of active skeletal growth due to insufficient strength of the muscular frame supporting the spine.

The disease causes a feeling of fatigue and severe pain in the thoracic region. As it progresses, the affected area becomes deformed. Patients complain of sharp pain when trying to straighten their back. In some cases, subfebrile temperature develops against the background of the disease.

For diagnostics, an X-ray is taken, which shows wedge-shaped deformations with jagged edges of the vertebral bodies. CT and MRI may also be prescribed. Conservative treatment. Bed rest on a hard bed, therapeutic exercises, and massages are recommended. Wearing a special corset that supports the back muscles is effective. Chondroprotectors, painkillers, multivitamin complexes, and medications to stimulate blood circulation and bone growth are prescribed.

Osteochondropathy of the lumbar spine

Degenerative-necrotic diseases include Calve's disease, that is, osteochondropathy of the vertebral body. Most often, it is localized in the lumbar spine.

Causes and risk factors of the disease:

• Hereditary predisposition.
• Increased physical activity.
• Local disruption of the blood supply to the bone tissue of the lumbar vertebrae.

Necrotic processes occurring in the vertebral body disrupt its bone structure. This leads to compaction of the vertebrae and thickening of the adjacent intervertebral discs. The pathology manifests itself as nagging pain in the lumbar region, radiating throughout the back and radiating to the lower limbs. There may be an increase in overall body temperature, swelling of the affected tissues and pain when palpating them.

Diagnostics consists of a set of instrumental methods. Particular attention is paid to differentiation. Aseptic necrosis is compared with Bechterew's disease, tuberculosis of the spinal column, inflammatory pathologies, and spinal developmental anomalies.

Treatment begins with conservative methods. Patients are prescribed a spinal unloading regime, massage, physiotherapy, and exercise therapy. In particularly severe cases, that is, with progressive deformation of the vertebrae, surgery is performed. It is aimed at fixing the spine and eliminating degenerative changes.

Forms

There are several types of degenerative-dystrophic disease:

1. Chondropathic kyphosis is a Scheuermann-Mau disease in which inflammation of the muscles at the point of attachment to the vertebrae is observed. The vertebrae are deformed, acquiring a wedge-shaped form, and kyphosis develops.
2. Calve's disease is a chondropathy, a destruction of the vertebra. The affected bone tissues expand and decrease in height. When palpating the spinous process, sharp pains occur.
3. Kümmel's disease is an inflammation of the vertebral body. It usually occurs after an injury.

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Diagnostics spinal osteochondropathy

The disease is difficult to diagnose, since in the early stages it does not cause obvious clinical signs. When performing radiography or tomography, destruction of bone and cartilage tissue can be detected. As the pathology progresses, rapid fatigue of the back muscles, their asymmetry and weakness, and deformation of the spine appear.

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Treatment spinal osteochondropathy

Treatment begins with the relief of acute pain syndrome, restoration of blood supply to the affected tissues and their nutrition. Physiotherapy, wearing a special corset, and exercise therapy are indicated to correct posture and restore the natural position of the spine. Particular attention is paid to the prevention of osteochondrosis.