What is Adjacent Segment Disc Disease?
Spinal fusion surgery involves the fusion of two or more vertebral bones and is a standard of care for spinal deformities and conditions such as radiculopathy, myelopathy, and spondylolisthesis.
However, in the long-run, the surgery may be associated with adjacent segment disc disease, a complication in which the spinal segments above and below the fused portions develop abnormalities such as disc degeneration, instability, spinal stenosis or disc herniation.
Causes for Adjacent Segment Disc Disease
This occurs because of increased stress on these segments owing to a compromised spinal column. The greater the number of segments involved in the fusion, the greater the stress experienced at the adjacent segments. The complication is more frequently associated with fusion of the lumbar spine (lower back vertebrae) rather than the cervical spine (neck vertebrae).
Diagnosis of Adjacent Segment Disc Disease
Adjacent segment disc disease is associated with new degeneration symptoms, but may be asymptomatic and identified only during a follow-up imaging test. Sometimes, clinical evidence of degeneration may not accompany radiographic changes.
Treatment for Adjacent Segment Disc Disease
Surgical intervention is decided only in the presence of clinical as well as imaging findings. Treatment includes fusion as well as the decompression of the adjacent segment.
Related Topics:
- Scoliosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spine Trauma
- Spinal Infection
- Spinal Tumors
- Spine Arthritis
- Spinal Instability
- Spinal Injuries at Work
- Back Pain
- Sciatica
- Spinal Fractures
- Fracture of the Thoracic and Lumbar Spine
- Disc Herniation
- Spine Deformities
- Spondylodiscitis
- Isthmic spondylolisthesis
- Arm Pain of Spinal Origin
- Cervicogenic Headache
- Spinal Compression Fractures
- Spine Disorders
- Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)
- Benign Spinal Tumors
- Spondylolysis
- Vertebral Compression Fractures
- Facet Joint Arthritis
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Tarlov Cysts
- Tethered Cord Syndrome
- Spine Injuries in Athletes
- Cauda Equina Syndrome
- Kyphosis
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Scheuermann's Kyphosis
- Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
- Adjacent Segment Disc Disease
- Chordoma
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Spondyloarthropathies
- Lordosis
- Neck and Back Injuries
- Proximal Junctional Kyphosis
- Pathological Fractures of the Spine
- Poor Balance
- Spina Bifida
- Difficulty Walking
- Peripheral Nerve Compression
- Sagittal Imbalance
- Adult Degenerative Scoliosis
- Discitis
- Failed Back Surgery Syndrome
- Neuromuscular Scoliosis
- Idiopathic Scoliosis
- Spine Bone Spurs
- Spinal Stenosis
- Epidural Abscess
- Whiplash
- Mid-back Pain
- Metastatic Tumors
- Osteoporotic Fractures
- Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
- Adult Kyphosis-Types and Causes
- Back Pain in Children
- Neck Strains and Sprains
- Radiculopathy
- Osteoporosis of the Spine
- Degenerative Spinal Conditions
- Disc changes