Gross Pathologies of the Vertebral Column Flashcards
Describe spinal tuberculosis
- Vertebral column is the most common loaction for musculoskeletal tuberculosis.
- Spinal TB = Mycobacterium TB
- Accounts for 11% of extra-pulmonary TB
- Affects 2 or more adjacent vertebral bodies
- Average number of vertebrae affected = 2.6
- Progression of disease is slow
- Can be associated with HIV:
- TB in HIV negative patients = 3-5% spinal
- TB in HIV positive patients = 60% spinal
- Usually secondary to an extraspinal source of infection
What spinal deformity can be caused by spinal tuberculosis and why?
- Severe kyphosis
- Due to vertebral body destruction during childhood
Where does spinal tuberculosis most commonly start?
Usually begins in anterior spine and surrounding soft tissue structures then proceeds posteriorly.
Relatively sparing of the disc space.
What are the causes of spinal tuberculosis?
- Poverty
- Overcrowding
- Malnutrition
- Alcoholism
- Diabetes
- HIV infection
- Genetic
- Zhang et al. (2010) found that polymorphism in the vitamin-D receptor gene was related to spinal TB.
List the effects of spinal tuberculosis
- Destruction of vertebral bodies and IV discs
- Formation of abscesses / lesion
- Anterior wedging
- Functional disability
- Spinal cord compression
- Back pain
What is stage 1 in the spread of spinal tuberculosis?
Hematogenous spread via arterial / venous route from a pulmonary lesion or a genitourinary infection.
What is stage 2 in the spread of spinal tuberculosis?
Pre-pus inflammatory reaction with Langerhans giant cells, epitheloid cells and lymphocytes.
What is stage 3 in the spread of spinal tuberculosis?
Granulation tissue proliferates, and thrombosis of blood vessels occurs.
What is stage 4 in the spread of spinal tuberculosis?
Tissue necrosis and / or breakdown of inflammatory cells = paraspinal abscess. Produces pus.
What is stage 5 in the spread of spinal tuberculosis?
Continued necrosis leads to kyphosis.
What is stage 6 in the spread of spinal tuberculosis?
Spread to other vertebral bodies via longitudinal ligaments.
What does hematogenous mean?
To spread via blood
Describe the process of diagnosis of spinal TB
- Patients are often wrongly prescribed anti-inflammatories and physical therapy.
- Slow disease progression so difficult to diagnose initially.
- MRI and CT used for diagnosis.
- BUT, histopathological diagnosis is ESSENTIAL.
- Adults and children differ (primary and secondary)
Explain the difference between spinal tuberculosis in adults and spinal tuberculosis in children
- As intervertebral discs are vascularised in children, infection can spread to the discs and start there as a primary infection.
- In adults, disc involvement is secondary following spread of infection from adjacent vertebrae.
What are the 2 main treatment options for spinal tubrculosis?
- Antituberculosis drugs
- Surgery
Describe drug treatmnt of spinal tuberculosis
- Chemotherapy remains the gold standard for spinal TB treatment.
- 3 main treatment drugs:
- Rifampin
- Isoniazid
- Pyrazinamide
- Early onset chemotherapy can minimise further risks
- All 3 drugs are typically administered every day for 2 months.
- Then, switch to only Rifampin and Isoniazid for a minimum of 4-8 months.
- Potential problems - drug resistance.
Describe the surgical treatment of spinal tuberculosis
- Can be anterior, posterior or combined
- First, use MRI to identify affected area(s)
- Insertion of screws to correct deformity
- Bone grafts (spinal fusion)
- Draining of abscess using needle
Secondary postoperative deformity can develop from incorrect choice of method to fixate the affected area, fusing unsuitable segments or a resultant poor balance following surgery.
What are the outcomes of treating spinal TB (one hopes)?
- Relieving spinal nerve compression
- Regaining spinal stability
- Correcting spinal deformity
- Eliminating sites of tuberculosis
Describe Scheuermann’s disease
- Characterised by juvenile thoracic kyphosis
- Usually occurs at 10-16 years
- Reported prevalence between 0.4 and 8.3%
- Typically seen at mid-thoracic level, lower thoracic level or at the thoracolumbar junction.
- No sex difference
- Geographical variations
- Common reason for hyperkyphosis following idiopathic scoliosis.
Describe the clinical presentation of Scheuermann’s disease
- Painless kyphotic deformity = most common symptom
- Painful kyphosis = more severe symptoms
- Compensatory cervical and lumbar lordosis
- Cutaneous pigmentation
- Hip and shoulder flexion contractures
- Hamstring spasm
What is a flexion contracture?
- Joint motion limitation
- Results from muscle shortening / fibrosis
- Named for the opposite action, so flexion contracture lacks full extension and vice versa.
List the pathologies caused by Scheuermann’s disease
- Vertebral body wedging (>5°) - sometimes whole body can appear flattened.
- Premature degeneration of IV discs - linked to loss of water in nucleus pulposus, proteoglycan content decrease.
- Vertebral endplate irregularity - main gateway for nutrient supply to IV disc so irregularities = less nutrients reach disc.
- Schmorl’s nodes
- Narrowing of space between IV discs
- Reduced anterior vertebral growth - increased stress on anterior part of growth plate. Greater weight = greater compressive force (also uneven distribution of force).
What are the 3 types of treatment for Scheuermann’s disease?
- Rehabilitation
- Orthopaedic treatment
- Surgical treatment
Mild cases can be left alone and unmanaged.
Patients should avoid all sports involving excess spinal load bearing.
Describe the rehabilitation of patients with Scheuermann’s disease
- Physiotherapy and bracing - gold standard.
- Exercise techniques include:
- Strengthening and stretching the trunk
- Postural control
- Musculotendinous stretching