Cauda Equina Syndrome
Clinical Presentation The patient is a 24-year-old female who presents acutely with low back pain and urinary incontinence. She has seen several physicians and has had several emergency room visits…
Arachnoiditis
Clinical Presentation The patient is a 67-year-old woman who presented in early 2005 with mild, low back pain and severe pain and numbness from the knees down. The patient gave…
Arachnoid Cyst
Clinical Presentation The patient is a 72-year-old female with longstanding gait disturbance, spasticity, back pain, right hip pain, and lower extremity hyperreflexia. No bowel or bladder dysfunction. No thoracic sensory…
Aneurysmal Bone Cyst
Clinical Presentation The patient is a 10-year-old female with a 7-month history of upper back pain, scapular pain, and rib pain. The patient developed bilateral lower extremity weakness 3 weeks…
Nomenclature for Lumbar Disc Disease
Discussion The preferred terminology for describing disc “degeneration” and disc “displacement” has been the subject of debate and controversy for decades. Debate is still ongoing regarding the appropriate definition and…
Sacral Anatomy
Computed Tomography (CT) Axial Oblique Sacrum Superior to Inferior Figure 4-1 CT Axial Oblique. L5-S1 disc level. 1. L5-S1 intervertebral disc 2. S1 superior articular facet 3. L5 inferior articular…
Cervical Spine Anatomy
Computed Tomography (CT) Cervical Axial Figure 1-1 Axial CT Image. Odontoid process level. 1. Odontoid process (dens) 2. Lateral mass C1 3. Lateral arch C1 4. Posterior arch C1 5….
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Clinical Presentation A sixty-five-year old white female with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and a 3-week history of mild-to-moderate intensity low back pain and abdominal pain. The…
Thoracic Spine Anatomy
Computed Tomography (CT) Axial Thoracic Imaging Superior to Inferior Figure 2-1 Axial CT Image. Disc level. 1. Intervertebral disc T7-8 2. Spinal cord 3. Superior articular process T8 4. Inferior…
