The most common causes of thoracolumbar fractures are
motor vehicle accidents, falls, violence, and sports activities
. The abrupt impact and/or twisting of the back that occurs in a millisecond during the trauma can cause the spine bones to crack or the ligaments to rupture, or both.
What is the thoracolumbar region of the spine?
Thoracolumbar spine is
the transitional zone between the stiff thoracic cage and the mobile lumbar spine
. Therefore, it is a vulnerable region for injury, including fracture and dislocation.
What is MRI spine thoracolumbar?
A spinal MRI, or
magnetic resonance imaging
, uses powerful magnets, radio waves, and a computer to make clear, detailed pictures of your spine. You may need this scan to check for spine problems, including: Low back pain. Neck pain. Numbness, tingling, and weakness in your arms and legs.
What organs can be seen in thoracic MRI?
- Heart.
- Lungs.
- Thymus Gland.
- Lymph Nodes.
- Posterior Ribs.
- Adrenal Glands.
How long does an MRI of the thoracic spine take?
The length of a spine MRI is typically
15-25 minutes without a contrast injection
. The total length of time is 30-35 minutes if a contrast injection is needed. You will be asked to hold still as MRI scans are sensitive to motion and any motion may obscure information the Radiologist uses to make a formal report.
How do you stop thoracic back pain?
Because pain in the thoracic region is often caused by muscle tension and poor posture, initial treatment efforts focus on relieving the tension with stretching, massage, and over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Heat and/or ice therapy
can help reduce muscle pain and stiffness as well.
What are the symptoms of thoracic spine nerve damage?
- Significant leg weakness or loss of sensation.
- Loss of feeling in genitals or rectal region.
- No control of urine or stool.
- Fever and lower back pain.
- A fall or injury that caused the pain.
What is a thoracolumbar spine condition?
Definition. Thoracolumbar fractures are
breakages in the vertebrae of the spinal column in the thoracic and lumbar regions
. They may be associated with disruption of the ligamentous complexes, and can result in instability or compression of neural structures.
What is thoracolumbar back pain?
Thoracolumbar syndrome results
from irritation of the thoracolumbar facet joints
causing pain to be referred to the distribution of the cluneal nerves from T12, L1 and L2. This results in local thoracolumbar backache with referred pain to the iliac crest and buttock.
What parts of the body does the thoracic spine control?
The thoracic spine has 12 nerve roots (T1 to T12) on each side of the spine that branch from the spinal cord and control motor and sensory signals mostly for
the upper back, chest, and abdomen
.
Can MRI results be seen immediately?
This means it’s
unlikely you’ll get the results of your scan immediately
. The radiologist will send a report to the doctor who arranged the scan, who will discuss the results with you. It usually takes a week or two for the results of an MRI scan to come through, unless they’re needed urgently.
What can a thoracic spine MRI show?
An MRI for thoracic spine shows
snapshots of discs, nerves, spinal cord, and other soft tissues in this region of the spine
. A trained radiographer and consultant radiologist will be able to point out anomalies and other irregularities occurring in this region which require closer attention.
Can MRI of spine show other organs?
Lumbar MRI obtained for low back pain may reveal
findings within any of the organ systems
included in the field of view.
Can you see inflammation on an MRI?
MRI allows to assess the soft tissue and bone marrow involvement in case of inflammation
and/or infection. MRI is capable of detecting more inflammatory lesions and erosions than US, X-ray, or CT.
What does thoracic pain feel like?
Thoracic spine — Symptoms of a thoracic disc herniation can be comprised of posterior chest pain radiating around one or both sides of the rib cage. Such pain is usually triggered by physical exertion and can even be caused by taking a deep breath. Bands of
numbness around
the chest wall can also be present.
What should you not do before an MRI?
The absolute most important thing not to do before an MRI is
to lie or leave out information when talking to your doctor
or the MRI technicians. MRIs are not safe for certain people. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you may be asked to delay the MRI, if possible.
