Thoracic stenosis is a condition where the spinal nerves or spinal cord is compressed in that region. I recently scanned a patient with back pain and abnormal sensations in their lower extremities. This was an elderly patient which we frequently get orders for to rule compression fracture or spinal stenosis. This patient had a T7-T8 paracentral disc protusion that mildly flattened the ventral aspect on the spinal cord on the right. Disc buldges can cause problems a little easier in the thoracic region due to the naturally narrower spinal canal of the thoracic. I see this in other regions where a patient has a congenital narrower spinal canal such as in cervical region, it immediately is problematic by touching the cord. If that same patient had more room in the canal it may not be as severe.
No comments:
Post a Comment