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To cut or not to cut? A case report on pediatric intervertebral disc calcification
Journal article   Open access

To cut or not to cut? A case report on pediatric intervertebral disc calcification

Hunter J. King, Rohin Ramchandani, Christina Maxwell, Atom Sarkar and Tina Loven
Surgical neurology international, v 12, p307
28 Jun 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25259/SNI_207_2021
url
https://doi.org/10.25259/sni_207_2021View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)CC BY-NC-SA V4.0,  Open
url
https://doi.org/10.25259/SNI_207_2021View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Background: Intervertebral disc calcification (IVDC) is a rare cause of acute spinal pain in pediatric patients. The most common symptom is back or neck pain, but muscle spasm, muscle weakness, and sensory loss also occur. Many patients have an alarming presentation and radiological findings concerning for spinal cord compression. Case Description: A 10-year-old female presented with 2 weeks of worsening back pain and restricted neck flexion with no history of preceding trauma. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed T4/5 and T5/6 vertebral disc calcification and posterior herniation causing thoracic spinal cord compression. Despite concerning imaging findings, we decided to manage this patient conservatively with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, leading to the improvement of symptoms within 9 days, and resolution of all pain within 1 month after hospital discharge. At 6 months follow-up, MRI showed complete resolution of calcification within the spinal canal. Conclusion: This case report emphasizes IVDC as an important differential diagnosis of pediatric disc disease that does not require surgical intervention. X-ray imaging with PA and lateral views is an adequate screening for these patients. Majority of cases resolve within 6 months with conservative therapy.

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