Thoracic Spondylosis

Thoracic spondylosis is basically disc degeneration. There are several different types of spondylosis, so I going to try to keep this pretty generic so that I don't get them confused.

Thoracic spondylosis is a narrowing of the disc space between vertebrae. This can lead to disc herniation or bulging. This condition is associated with age, and men are usually diagnosed 10 years earlier than women. Xrays or MRI's can be performed to evaluate the severity.

The symptoms are pain in the midsection, mainly the chest and upper abdomen. It is especially demonstrated in flexion and hyperextension of the back. There may also be radiating pain in extremities depending on the location. Muscle weakness and tingling are also common.

One treatment is arthroscopic laser foremenoplasty. This is performed under low level local sedation. It is done to decompress the affected nerve root.

References:

www.eorthopod.com

www.spinaldisorders.com

Clay Shoveler's Fracture

Clay Shoveler's Fracture is a type of avulsion fracture that is usually stable. It is most commonly seen in laborers that lift weight rapidly with their arms extended, like shoveling or pulling roots. During this excessive hyperflexion the trapezius and rhomboid muscles pull on the spine at the base of the neck, and it actually tears off the bone. The most common area for this is at C6, C7 and T1.

If you are unlucky enough to be on the receiving end of this fracture, then you will feel a burning knife like pain between your shoulder blades. After X-rays determine that you have this fracture, then expect to be in a hard collar for at least 10 days until you once again have good flexion and extension of your neck and a strong callus present.

It can take days or weeks to heal. Even after most of the pain is gone, it is still common to have pain when your arms are outstretched for long periods of time. If your pain seems to last longer, then surgery can be performed to remove the tip. Otherwise, pain medicine, physical therapy, and massage is used for pain relief.

References:
http://www.medterms.com/
http://www.wheelessonline.com/
http://brighamrad.harvard.edu/Cases/bwh/images/123/Alia8Arrow.GIF
http://faculty.washington.edu/alexbert/MEDEX/Winter/ch264fg7.jpg

Carotid body tumors

Carotid body tumors (chemodectomas) are vascular tumors. They start at the paraganglionic cells on the outer layer of the carotid artery and develop where the artery bifurcates into the internal and external carotid arteries. Most often these tumors are benign, but in 5-10% of cases they are malignant. These tumors can grow pretty large before they cause symptoms like a painless pulsating mass in the neck and difficulty swallowing. Surgery is usually performed for treatment, and radiation therapy may also be used.

Carotid body tumors are usually hereditary and are more common in South America. Only about 10% of tumors are on both sides of the carotid artery. They are diagnosed through CT, MRI, and angiography.

Reference:
http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/5486.cfm

www.mayoclinicproceedings.com/images/7905/790...425 x 424 - 43k