Permanent thoracic myelopathy resulting from herniation of a calcified intervertebral disc in a child

J Pediatr Orthop B. 2002 Jan;11(1):6-9. doi: 10.1097/00009957-200201000-00002.

Abstract

This retrospective study was made to illustrate the rare occurrence of neurologic deficits resulting from intervertebral disc calcification (IDC) in a child. Most authors agree that juvenile IDC is usually a benign, self-limiting disease with excellent prognosis. The symptoms subside spontaneously in 95% of patients. Conservative treatment is therefore usually sufficient. Reviewing the English-speaking literature, only two further cases of operated juvenile IDC with myelopathy have been published. In the current report, we describe a case of permanent thoracic myelopathy resulting from juvenile IDC treated by urgent decompressive thoracic laminectomy. At the 3-year follow-up examination, the patient had not recovered fully. Persisting deficits in motor and sensory function were observed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Calcinosis / complications*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intervertebral Disc Displacement / complications
  • Intervertebral Disc Displacement / diagnosis*
  • Intervertebral Disc Displacement / surgery
  • Laminectomy
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Recovery of Function
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / etiology*
  • Thoracic Vertebrae / pathology