Neck & Spine
NECK
Medical complications of Neck
Cervical Fracture
A cervical fracture, commonly known as a broken neck, occurs when one of the seven cervical vertebrae that support the head and connect it to the shoulders and body is fractured. These fractures typically result from high-energy trauma such as car accidents or falls, including ground-level falls in the elderly.
Cervical Spondylosis
Cervical spondylosis, or arthritis of the neck, is the result of age-related wear-and-tear changes affecting the disks and joints in the cervical spine. It is a common cause of neck pain associated with aging.
Cervical Radiculopathy
Cervical radiculopathy, often referred to as a pinched nerve, occurs when a nerve in the neck is compressed or irritated, causing pain, weakness, and numbness that may radiate into the shoulder and arm. It is typically caused by age-related degenerative changes or sudden injuries like herniated disks.
Congenital Muscular Torticollis
Congenital muscular torticollis, also known as twisted neck or wry neck, is a condition where an infant holds their head tilted to one side due to tightness and shortening of the sternocleidomastoid muscle in the neck. Stretching exercises and adjustments in positioning can gradually correct this condition.
Neck Sprains and Strains
Sprains of the ligaments or strains of the muscles in the neck can occur after abnormal bending or rotation of the neck, often due to injury. Symptoms, ranging from mild to severe pain, may not appear immediately following the injury but can develop hours or days later.
SPINE
Medical Complications of Spine
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Kyphosis of the Spine
Kyphosis is a spinal disorder in which an excessive curve of the spine results in an abnormal rounding of the upper back. The condition is sometimes known as roundback or in the case of a severe curve as hunchback. Kyphosis can occur at any age but is common during adolescence.
Low Back Pain
Almost everyone will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. This pain can vary from mild to severe. It can be short-lived or long-lasting. However it happens, low back pain can make many everyday activities difficult to do.One of the more common causes of low back pain is muscle soreness from overactivity. Muscles and ligament fibers can be overstretched or injured.
Herniated disk
Another common type of disk injury is a "slipped" or herniated disk.A disk herniates when its jelly-like center (nucleus) pushes against its annulus. If the disk is very worn or injured, the nucleus may squeeze all the way through. When the herniated disk bulges out toward the spinal canal, it puts pressure on the sensitive spinal nerves, causing pain.
Disk Degeneration
With age, intervertebral disks begin to wear away and shrink. In some cases, they may collapse completely and cause the facet joints (the small joints located between each vertebra on the back of the spine) to rub against one another. Pain and stiffness result. Smoking has also been found to accelerate disk degeneration.This wear and tear on the facet joints is referred to as osteoarthritis, also known as spondylosis. It can lead to further back problems, including spinal stenosis.
Degenerative Spondylolisthesis
Changes from aging and general wear and tear make it hard for your joints and ligaments to keep your spine in the proper position. The vertebrae can move more than they should, and one vertebra can slide forward on top of another. If too much slippage occurs, the bones may begin to press on the spinal nerves.
Idiopathic Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a condition that causes the spine to curve sideways. There are several different types of scoliosis that affect children and adolescents. By far, the most common type is "idiopathic," which means the exact cause is not known.Most cases of idiopathic scoliosis occur between age 10 and the time a child is fully grown. Scoliosis is rarely painful — small curves often go unnoticed by children and their parents, and are first detected during a school screening or at a regular check-up with the pediatrician.
