A
FURTHER STUDY OF CALCIFYING DISCOPATHY IN CHILDREN (A REPORT OF 62 CASES)
Qin Junchang1, Han Jinming1,
Liu Baopin1, Liu Zhengquan2, Tang Shenping2
1 Department of Pediatric Surgery,
Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, China
2 Children’s Hospital, Chongqing
University of Medical Sciences, China
Objective: To evaluate the
radiological manifestations and their outcomes of calcifying discopathy in
children.
Materials and Methods: The Cervical
or/and thoracic spine films of 62 cases from Aug. 1979 till now including 76 cacifying discophaty were
reviewed retrospectively. Male
39 and female 23, and the first films ages ranged from 3 to 10 years. Unicalcifying discopathy involvement
occurred in 50 cases (80.7%), multicalcifying discopathy involvement
occurred in 12 cases (19.3%).
The cacification of 56 (90.4%) cases occurred in cervical spine, 4
cases (6.4%) occurred in the thoracic spine and 2 cases (3.2%) occurred
between cervical and thoracic spine.
Twenty-five cases had 2-9 follow up studies from 2 months to 9
years.
Results: The radiological
manifestations were: (1) Calcification of the disc round or ovoid 18
(23.7%), disc-like 11 (14.4%), fragmented 21 (27.7%), the above mentioned
with linear 23 (30.3%) and semicircular 3 (3.9%); (2) Protrusion or displacement
of calcified nucleus pulposus 23 (30.3%); (3) Changes of vertebral body (48
cases): flattening of the body, pseudo-osteophyte formation of
antero-superior or inferior margin, “open forceps sign”. The calcifications of 10 cases
disappeared with-in 2 months to 3 11/12 years, but
only 2 cases of vertebral bodies fully reconstructed after 7 to 9 years.
The latter one might have some relationship to neck or back pain.
Conclusion: (1) The alterations of
vertebral bodies may be one of the causes of neck or back pain and their
reconstructions are slower processes; (2) The calcification of the disc not
only affects the nucleus pulposus but also involves the fibrocartilage of
annulus and cartilaginous endplate.