Dr. Pete Rose Spine Abnormalities Photos

Scoliosis Abnormal curve of the spine in the frontal plane –Present in 1/3 rd of patients –Equally present in children and adults –Generally mild – only 1/18 patients required surgery

Scoliosis Wide variety of curves present –More left curves than expected Not associated with back pain

Schmorl’s Nodes / Endplate Abnormalities

Endplate Abnormalities Caused by weakened bone endplates Seen in 74% overall –Seem to come with age –Present in 94% of adults Associated with back pain

Focal Kyphosis Abnormally sharp curve to the spine in the side plane Present in 43% of patients –Adolescents and adults Not associated with back pain

Other Spine Findings 43 % platyspondylia –abnormal flattening of vertebra 13% scalloping of vertebral bodies 11% stress fractures at base of spine

Spine Only one adult patient was free of spine abnormalities Back pain present in 2/3rds of patients > 5 yo –Associated with adult age, endplate abnormalities, and Schmorl’s nodes

Spine What do we make of this? 1.Most of these findings are mild and don’t require any specific treatment 2.These findings can help in the recognition and diagnosis of Stickler Syndrome 3.What the specific source of pain is remains unclear. –Back pain is common in many people –X-ray findings alone don’t prove causal relationship