Spinal Stenosis Essays -- Disease/Disorders

The spine is made up of bones known as the vertebrae which are each separated by discs that serve to reduce the impact that movement may have on the spinal column thus acting as a movable support structure. The spine is made up of seven vertebrae in the neck known as the cervical spine, twelve vertebrae in the mid-back known as the thoracic spine and 5 vertebrae in the low back known as the lumbar spine. There is a hollow space that runs down the middle of each vertebra that contains the spinal cord known as the spinal canal. The spinal nerves exit the spinal canal via the intervertebral foramen. It is imperative that these canals maintain enough room to support the spinal cord and spinal nerves. Spinal stenosis occurs when the canals narrow causing irritation or pressure on the spinal cord or the spinal nerves, depending on which area of the spine is affected. As the canals narrow, there is less space for the spinal cord and nerves to move without restraint. Spinal stenosis is a de generative condition that can occur in any area of the spine, although it is most prevalent in the lumbar area. Lumbar spinal stenosis is a reduction in the dimension of the central or lateral lumbar spinal canal that occurs most frequently as a result of chronic degenerative changes (Celik et al., 2012). The narrowing may be caused by either congenital or acquired etiologies, or in some rare cases, both. Congenital stenosis is also known as primary stenosis which occurs during postnatal development meaning it is seen at birth. Acquired stenosis or secondary stenosis occurs after the normal development of the spine in which the narrowing occurs due to an acquired condition such as degenerative stenosis, spinal instability or trauma. As the aged po... ...udy of a clinical diagnosis support tool for lumbar spinal stenosis. Journal of orthopaedic science : official journal of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association 14, 711-718. Landi, A., Tarantino, R., Marotta, N., Ruggeri, A.G., Domenicucci, M., Giudice, L., Martini, S., Rastelli, M., Ferrazza, G., De Luca, N., et al. (2011). The use of platelet gel in postero-lateral fusion: preliminary results in a series of 14 cases. European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society 20 Suppl 1, S61-67. Miyakoshi, N., Hongo, M., Kasukawa, Y., Ishikawa, Y., and Shimada, Y. (2011). Prevalence, Spinal Alignment, and Mobility of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis with or without Chronic Low Back Pain: A Community-Dwelling Study. Pain research and treatment 2011, 340629.