THORACIC

Common thoracic symptoms and conditions include: Compression Fractures Disc Herniation Disc Degeneration Scoliosis 1) Compression Fractures A vertebral compression fracture is a special form of a vertebral fracture. The bone of the vertebral body collapses by compression. The vertebral body, thus, shrinks down in height. Vertebral compression fractures are relatively common with certain risk factors Most vertebral compression fractures occur when the bone structure is not stable enough to withstand everyday stresses. Such is the case with generalized bone diseases like osteoporosis or metastatic malignant tumors within the vertebral bodies. Osteoporosis often occurs in women after menopause, but also other risk factors can lead to weakening of the bone: smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, radiation therapy of the spine, a long-term treatment with cortisone or end stage liver and renal disease. Once the bones are so “brittle”, often a very small “event” can cause for a collapsing of the vertebral body. 2) Disc Herniation What is a herniated disc? The inter-vertebral discs lie between the vertebral bodies. They consist of a gelatinous, elastic core (nucleus), which is kept in shape by a surrounding fiber ring (annulus). Over the course of normal aging processes or by overloading it, cracks in the fiber ring may occur. Parts of the nucleus pulposus may then be pushed out through the annulus and into the spinal canal. This is known as a herniated disc. What causes a herniated disc? A sudden rotational movement of the trunk or heavy lifting can cause a herniated disc. It can also be the result of poor posture in daily life (for example, incorrect sitting or permanent and long-lasting driving), lack of exercise or dehydration. If there is not enough liquid available for the body, also the disc will dry out – and it will lose its elasticity. Other risk factors for a herniated disc are obesity, pregnancy, or a general weakness of connective tissue. 3)Degenerative Disc Degenerative disc disease is a weakening of one or more vertebral discs, which normally act as a cushion between the vertebrae. This condition can develop as a natural part of the aging process, but it may also result from injury to the back. 4)Scoliosis Scoliosis can be categorized into two main types: nonstructural, or functional, scoliosis, which results from a soft tissue asymmetry and is temporary, and structural scoliosis, in which the changes to the curvature of the spine are generally more permanent. Most cases of structural scoliosis, the focus of this article, are idiopathic; that is, they have no clear cause. Idiopathic scoliosis tends to appear just before puberty and occurs in females more frequently than in males. Scoliosis has been observed in 10.7 percent of women and 5.6 percent of men between the ages of 25 and 74. In an older population, scoliosis may occur in up to 68 percent of individuals. (The increased prevalence in older adults may be connected with osteoporosis, loss of bone density, which has been observed in many older people with scoliosis.) Though scoliosis can often be treated non-surgically (for example, by bracing and physical therapy exercises), in severe cases, the insertion of a titanium rod to straighten the spine may be necessary