P-3-05-03
THORACIC SPINE PATHOLOGY: MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
Kamala Shankar; Kazuko Shem (Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA)
The incidence of herniated thoracic discs diagnosed incidentally by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has been reported to be approximately 20%. The objective of this study was to obtain the incidence of degenerative changes of thoracic spine in patients who had MRI of thoracic spine for musculoskeletal and/or neurological complaints such as back pain and weakness. 112 records of MRI of thoracic spine in our institution for the past 2 years were reviewed. 62/112 MRI were obtained to evaluate possible complications form cancer, spinal cord injuries, abscess and soft tissue masses. Among the 50/112 (45%) patients for whom MRIs were obtained for musculoskeletal and/or neurological compliants, 16 had back pain, 11 had weakness, 9 had numbness and 4 had bladder dysfunction. 17/50 (34%) MRI were normal. Positive findings in the thoracic spine were as follows: 8 "disc bulges," 6 hemangiomas of vertebral bodies, 5 Schmorl's nodes, 5 fractures, 3 desiccation, 4 osteophytes, 1 "herniation," 2 spinal stenosis and 1 cord impingement. Only indirect association between these findings and the symtoms can be made. Further studies are indicated to evaluate degenerative changes of thoracic spine as possible causes of back pain.
P-3-05-04
REHABILITATION OF OPERATED INSTABILITIES OF THE NECK SPINE
L. Ugrinovska, L. Domitrova, Z. Cvetkovic (Institute for medical rehabilitation, Skopje, Medical faculty, University "Kiril i Metodi" - Skopje, Republic of Macedonia)
Purpose: Proving that biomechanical stability by fusion of the instable neck spine segment enables kinezitherapeutic and physical treatment without risks.
Methods: Rehabilitation program of mobilization and achieving of optimal mobility of the cervical spine after interevention, improvement of motor deficit, toning the extremities musculature, improved sensibility and subjective difficulties.
Result: Results and assessed by Odom's criteria which exhibits maximal functional improvement in correlation to existing sequels before the surgery.
Conclusion: Because the problem of neck instability is causally solved by biomechanical stability, kinezitherapy program enables improvement as well as prevention of further neurologic impairments progression.
