Spine Injuries and Disorders
Learn More
See, Play and Learn
Research
Resources
For You
Summary
Your backbone, or spine, is made up of 26 bone discs called vertebrae. The vertebrae protect your spinal cord and allow you to stand and bend. A number of problems can change the structure of the spine or damage the vertebrae and surrounding tissue. They include
- Infections
- Injuries
- Tumors
- Conditions, such as ankylosing spondylitis and scoliosis
- Bone changes that come with age, such as spinal stenosis and herniated disks
Spinal diseases often cause pain when bone changes put pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. They can also limit movement. Treatments differ by disease, but sometimes they include back braces and surgery.
Diagnosis and Tests
- Computed Tomography (CT) - Spine (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
- Discography (North American Spine Society)
- Electromyography (EMG) (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - Spine (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
Prevention and Risk Factors
-
Getting It Straight: Improve Your Posture for Better Health
(National Institutes of Health)
Also in Spanish
Treatments and Therapies
- About Neurointerventions (Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery)
- Artificial Disc Replacement (North American Spine Society)
- Back Surgery: When Is It a Good Idea? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
-
Chiropractic: MedlinePlus Health Topic
(National Library of Medicine)
Also in Spanish
- Epidural Injections for Spinal Pain (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
- Lumbar (Open) Microscopic Discectomy (North American Spine Society)
- Vertebroplasty for Spine Fracture Pain (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
- What's a Halo? (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Living With
- Spine Rehabilitation Exercises (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
Related Issues
- Degenerative Changes in the Spine: Is This Arthritis? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Specifics
- Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH) (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- Fractures of the Thoracic and Lumbar Spine (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - PDF
- Kyphosis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Spinal Cord Tumor (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Spinal Infections (North American Spine Society)
- Spondylolysis and Spondylolysthesis (North American Spine Society)
- Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAS) (North American Spine Society)
Genetics
-
Genetics Home Reference: intervertebral disc disease
(National Library of Medicine)
-
Genetics Home Reference: spondylocostal dysostosis
(National Library of Medicine)
-
Genetics Home Reference: spondylothoracic dysostosis
(National Library of Medicine)
Images
- Lumbar spinal surgery - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Spinal fusion - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Vertebroplasty - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Videos and Tutorials
-
Prevention: Exercise
(North American Spine Society)
-
Spinal Fusion Surgery for Relief of Chronic Lower Back Pain
(BroadcastMed)
- Shawnee Mission Medical Center, Shawnee Mission, KS, 3/05/2014
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Fractures, Compression
(National Institutes of Health)
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Kyphosis
(National Institutes of Health)
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Spinal Diseases
(National Institutes of Health)
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Spinal Fractures
(National Institutes of Health)
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Spinal Injuries
(National Institutes of Health)
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Spondylolisthesis
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Reference Desk
- Definitions A-Z (North American Spine Society)
Find an Expert
- Find a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician (American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation)
- Find a Physical Therapist (American Physical Therapy Association)
-
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Also in Spanish
Children
- Back Problem: Kyphosis (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- Compression fractures of the back (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Foraminotomy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Kyphosis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Laminectomy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Lordosis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Spinal fusion (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Spine surgery - discharge (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Spondylolisthesis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish