Common Thoracic Conditions Flashcards
What is thoracic osteoporosis?
An age related change to the vertebrae where the vertebral bodies lose bone trabeculae which leads to collapse of vertebral end plates, increased kyphosis and loss of stature
What x-ray findings are indicative of osteoporosis?
collapse of endplates with marked increase in endplate concavity
What age range is common for osteoporosis to show up in adults?
Post menopause for women and about a decade later for men
What may cause the uncommon phenomena of anteriorly fused mid-thoracic vertebra?
diffuse idiopathic spondylitic hyperostosis (DISH) or from ankylosing spondylitis
How does pain from thoracic aging usually present?
localized posteriorly and slightly off to one side which radiates a few inches
chest wall pain is common and low back pain as a referral from T/L junction also common
Thoracic trauma when spine is flexed leads to what structure damage? How does this change when spine is in an extended position?
in flexion or axial compression vertebrae are injured more often than discs
in extension, thoracic facet injuries are just as common as cervical facet injuries
What are the four common injuries from a loading trauma to a flexed T spine from least to most severe?
- endplate fracture (least severe)
- bone bruise
- wedge compression
- burst fracture (most severe)
True or False: After a MVC it is more common in the T spine for a disc to be injured rather than the vertebral body
False, after a MVC the T spine will most likely have a vertebral body injury rather than a disc injury, this is not true, however, in the C spine where disc injuries are more common
Facet injuries are common in both spine segments after a MVC
What are the most commonly injured segments of the T spine after a MVC?
T12-L1
Which gender is more at risk for osteoporosis?
Females (40%) more than males (13%)
True or False: vertebral body fractures are twice as common as hip fractures
True
Which vertebrae are at the highest risk for compression fractures? Why?
T11-L1 (due to the increase percentage of body weight that they carry)
What is kyphoplasty?
What patients are most likely candidates for kyphoplasty?
A procedure to alleviate pain from vertebral fractures resulting from osteoporosis and try to restore natural kyphosis of the spine
patients who recently suffered from a fracture from osteoporosis and have painful symptoms due to fractures (usually within 8 weeks of fracture)
What symptoms can sprout from the resulting change in height and spinal alignment after vertebral stress fractures?
- chronic or severe pain
- limited function and reduced mobility
- loss of independence in daily activities
- decreased lung capacity
- difficulty sleeping
True or False: Kypho/vertebroplasty has no signifcant difference in outcomes compared to conservative care or placebo
True
What will be the cause of the greatest percentage of pts presenting with thoracic pain?
involved in a trivial accident such as a small fall or someone bumping into their rib cage
Roughly how many patients that present with acute chest pain in the ER are found to be due to MSK system?
1 in 4
True or False: Disc lesions in the T spine are probably very common and commonly asymptomatic.
True
what are some reasons for why disc lesions are so common?
- the attachment of ribs to annulus fibers (blow to ribs may disrupt the disc)
- higher viscosity of IVD in T spine
- asymmetrical loading with segmental motion
Where are disc lesion most common?
Lower T spine or at thoracolumbar junction
disc lesion common on convex side of scoliosis or kyphosis (asymmetrical loading)
What are some common clinical presentations of pain from disc lesions?
- pain is in blobs or patches (referred from vertebrae)
- somewhat segmental pain
- unilateral pain
- deep ache
- pain aggravated by coughing, sneezing or deep breathing
If nerve root pain is from a mechanical origin how might the pain present?
How does this change if the origin is chemical irritation?
mechanical: local discomfort w/ numbness and paresthesia
Chemical: severe pain with distal being more painful than proximal
True or False: In true nerve root pain proximal pain (back pain) will be greater than distal pain (anterior wall next to the sternum)
False, distal pain will be greater than proximal pain in true nerve root pain
What condition may closely simulate thoracic nerve root pain due to pain being located anteriorly at the sternum?
costochondritis
Where might the upper T spine refer pain to?
Upper extremity or axillary region