Trauma der Halswirbelsäule

Cervical spine injuries are a common occurrence in multi-trauma patients and should be taken into account when planning further clinical management. This review describes in detail upper and lower cervical spine injuries and introduces the sub-axial injury classification (SLIC) that is based on three components: injury morphology, integrity of the discoligamentous complex and the neurologic status of the patient. If the total SLIC score is <3, non-surgical treatment is recommended. If the total is > or =5, operative treatment is indicated as such a score is associated with instability and probably neurologic deficits. The precise diagnosis of the radiologist, which would include the SLIC classification, should facilitate clinical decision-making about further management.     

Degenerative Erkrankungen der Wirbelsäule

GOAL: The aim of this article is to describe rare and often unrecognized causes of spinal pain syndromes. METHOD: Intervertebral disc degeneration frequently appears in early adulthood and can have a symptomatic or asymptomatic course. This article discusses incidence, pathophysiology, imaging, and pain symptomatology involved in the origin of back pain. RESULTS: Anulus tears are often found in asymptomatic individuals but could be implicated in lumbar pain symptomatology in correlation with the provocative discography. Transient disorders can lead to pseudarthrosis of the iliac bone and to degeneration or to a reactive hypermobility with intervertebral disc degeneration in the level above. Modic type 1 erosive osteochondrosis is characterized by bone marrow edema near the hyaline cartilage end plate, which mostly elicits severe pain and results in serious limitations in everyday activities. The most important differential diagnosis is spondylodiscitis. Schmorl's nodes can exhibit considerable surrounding bone marrow edema that can be mistaken for metastases. A combination of MRI and CT should be employed for the diagnostic work-up of fatigue fracture of the interarticular portion, which is often overlooked due to its location. Synovial cysts of the facet joints can lead to radicular symptoms. Insufficiency fracture of the sacrum is frequently mistaken for metastasis due to intense scintigraphic enhancement and its signal behavior in MRI. CT provides instructive information. CONCLUSION: Differential diagnosis should include less common causes such as anulus tears, transient disorders, activated Schmorl's nodes, synovial cysts of the facet joints, fatigue fractures of the interarticular portion of the spine and the sacrum and distinguish from metastases in particular.     

Postoperative Wirbelsäule

Approximately 15–30?% of surgical procedures involving the lumbar spine are associated with complications that require further diagnostic work-up. The choice of imaging modality for postoperative complications depends on the extent, pattern and temporal evolution of the postoperative neurological signs and symptoms as well as on the preoperative clinical status, the surgical procedure itself and the underlying pathology. The interpretation of imaging findings, in particular the distinction between postoperative complications and normally expected nonspecific postoperative imaging alterations can be challenging and requires the integration of clinical neurological information and the results of laboratory tests. The combination of different imaging techniques might help in cases of equivocal imaging results.     

Bildgebung nichttraumatischer Erkrankungen der kindlichen Wirbelsäule

Pain is also the main symptom of spinal diseases in children. The younger the child, the more frequently organic causes are to be found, whereas in adolescents functional dorsalgia and lumbalgia are ubiquitous. Apart from the neonatal period, where ultrasound is used as the primary method for investigation of closed spinal dysraphia, radiography is still considered to be the first choice examination, which nevertheless should only be carried out after a thorough anamnesis and clinical examination. For targeted follow-up and especially exclusion of neoplasms, MRI is the method of choice in most cases. Computed tomography (CT) plays an important role preoperatively and postoperatively in corrective spine surgery and together with scintigraphy in the diagnostics of spondylolysis and some tumors such as osteoid osteoma. Important is the care of children with hereditary spinal malformations, especially dysraphias where the entire CNS may be affected as with the common association of myelomeningocele and Chiari II malformation with hydrocephalus and hydromyalia.     

Biochemische MR-Bildgebung der Bandscheibe und Facettengelenke der Wirbelsäule

The limited specificity of standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with low back pain encourages the development of new imaging techniques. Quantitative MR methods have the potential to assess biochemical changes of spinal structures in vivo. Early diagnosis of intervertebral disc and facet joint changes in young to middle aged patients allows the use of a specific therapy and preventative measures. Potential techniques are T2 and T2* mapping, diffusion-weighted imaging, magnetization transfer imaging, T1ρ mapping, sodium imaging and MR spectroscopy. Well designed longitudinal therapy studies, which assess biochemical and clinical parameters, are necessary. High-field MR systems (3 Tesla) are needed for high resolution biochemical MRI and clinically reasonable scan times.     

Degenerative und altersbedingte Veränderungen an der Wirbelsäule

Degenerative alterations of the spine occur in an individual-specific manner with increasing age. This is not only dependent on external factors, such as hard physical labor over many years but can also be genetically influenced as demonstrated in recent studies. The spinal cord is well-protected within the spinal canal but can be impaired by degenerative alterations of the intervertebral discs and functional spinal segments. Depositions or narrowing of nerve structures can cause lasting pain or focal neurological deficits, such as paralysis or sensitivity disorders. These complaints can slowly develop over years, e.g. by a gradually increasing bony narrowing of the spinal canal (spinal canal stenosis) or can occur suddenly, e.g. an acute herniated disc. However, low back pain is much more common and occurs in approximately 80?% of people sometime during their lifetime. It is necessary to recognize the normal age-related anatomical alterations in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), particularly for intervertebral discs in order to interpret these correctly. Knowledge of the spectrum of the various age-related degenerative processes which can occur in intervertebral discs and vertebral bodies is necessary to be able to differentiate them from pathological alterations. This is important because therapy decisions are often made as a direct result of MRI.     

Degenerative Erkrankungen der Wirbels?ule

Degenerative alterations of the spine are among the most common causes of complaints of the musculoskeletal system. Imaging procedures are an established component of diagnostics and differential diagnoses. A reduction in height of the intervertebral space and sclerotization of the basal and covering plates are part of the first radiological alterations and in the further course can be accompanied by formation of spondylophytes, arthrosis of the intervertebral joints and degenerative vertebral surface gliding. However, early changes of the mobile segments can often not be visualized in x-ray images. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) substantially improve the diagnostic options. Using MRI the spinal column and the surrounding soft tissues can be visualized in 3-D and a differential diagnostic differentiation between inflammatory, traumatized or neoplastic processes is possible. A lack of correlation between the imaging findings and clinical symptoms remains problematic. A meaningful interpretation of x-ray images and MRI can only be made with the appropriate knowledge of the symptoms and possible diseases.     

Postoperative Befunde an der Wirbels?ule

Postoperative imaging after spinal surgery is usually performed to document the correct positioning of implants or to rule out complications if patients still suffer from pain after surgery. Depending on the question various imaging modalities can be used all of which have benefits and limitations. Conventional X-ray is used for the documentation of the correct positioning of spinal implants, stability (olisthesis) and during follow-up to rule out fractures or instability of the implants, whereas soft tissue changes cannot be completely assessed. Besides these indications, imaging is usually performed because of ongoing symptoms (pain for the most part) of the patients. Soft tissue changes including persistent or recurrent herniated disc tissue, hematoma or infection can best be depicted using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which should be performed within the immediate postoperative period to be able to distinguish physiological development of scar tissue from inflammatory changes in the area of the surgical approach. Often imaging alone cannot differentiate between these and imaging can therefore only be considered as an adjunct. Computed tomography is the modality of choice for the evaluation of bony structures and an adjunct of new therapies such as image-guided application of cement for kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty.     

Entz��ndliche Erkrankungen der Wirbels?ule und des Myelons

Inflammatory diseases of the spine and the spinal cord (myelon) can be caused by a wide range of pathological conditions. Except for degenerative inflammatory diseases of the spine, infectious and autoimmune disorders are relatively rare. The latter can also be a significant source of pain and disability, especially if these hard to diagnose conditions go untreated. In cases of advanced disease some entities, such as spondylodiscitis or rheumatoid arthritis can cause severe neurological impairment especially by progressive intraspinal spread. Inflammation of the myelon cannot be depicted with conventional radiographs in general and by computed tomography only occasionally. In these cases magnetic resonance imaging is the method of choice to detect early abnormalities of the myelon and to provide detailed information for the differential diagnosis.     

Verschluß der Wirbelsäulenschlagader am Kopfgelenk mit nachfolgender Thrombose durch Seitwärtsdrehen des Kopfes

Ohne ZusammenfassungVortrag auf der Tagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Gerichtliche und Soziale Medizin, 6. Oktober 1954, in Kiel.     

Zur Mechanik des Schleudertraumas der Halswirbelsäule

Zusammenfassung Trotz vielfältiger Bemühungen war bisher weder für die Diagnostik, die Therapie noch für die Begutachtung eine einheitliche Verwendung des Begriffs Schleudertrauma (Whiplash injury) durchzusetzen.Um zu einer tragfähigen, funktionell begründeten Definition zu gelangen, werden die gebräuchlichsten Ansätze miteinander verglichen, zusätzliche anatomische und mechanische Überlegungen einbezogen. Abgegrenzt wird das Schleudertrauma von der Hyperextensionsverletzung (Abknicktrauma der HWS), auch wenn Überschneidungen im Verletzungsbild möglich sind.Bei der vorgeschlagenen Definition wird auf die Bindung an den Heckauffahrunfall verzichtet, statt dessen wird betont, daß dieser Unfallmechanismus ein zwar häufiger, aber austauschbarer ist.Besonderer Wert wird im Gegensatz zu anderen Definitionen auf den biphasischen Verlauf gelegt, weil eine wesentliche Traumatisierung durch die Sekundärbewegung anzunehmen ist. Dabei verläuft diese Zweitbewegung keineswegs energiearm, sondern ihr Ausmaß wird durch die Massenkontraktion der primär abrupt überdehnten Muskelgruppen mit deren Synergisten bestimmt.Gestützt auf die Analyse des mechanischen Ablaufs und die Untersuchung realer Unfälle kann deshalb auch nicht in der monosegmentalen HWS-Verletzung der charakteristische Typ der Schädigung durch ein Schleudertrauma gesehen werden. Statt dessen wird auf das häufige Auftreten von Mehrfachverletzungen verwiesen.Herrn Prof. Dr. J. Gerchow zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet