Spinal Trauma -- An Imaging Approach by Victor N. Cassar-Pullicino and Herwig Imhof
Thieme, New York City, 2006, $149.95
This is an interesting and informative work. At just over two hundred pages, it's an easy read on acute traumatic injury as well as congenital, inherited and age-related causes of spinal injury.
Clinical perspectives on spinal injury add relevance to the chapters that follow. Discussions on malalignment, instability, and neurovascular injury are included in context with pathology and imaging findings. A historical review of spinal trauma is presented along with current concepts of classifying and grading many types of acute spine injury.
There are many high quality images that demonstrate several types of acute spinal fracture that are commonly encountered. More unusual and esoteric injuries are also presented. Images include good quality radiographs, computed tomography, MRI, and when applicable, nuclear medicine images.
Special attention is paid to injuries common to certain selective patient groups. Sports-related injuries in the pediatric and adolescent age group are discussed as are idiopathic spinal trauma such as the spectrum of spondylolysis and Sheurman’s disease. Spinal trauma predilection the elderly and those with conditions such as DISH and ankylosing spondylitis receive special attention.
The chapter on osteoporotic compression fractures does contain some inaccuracies with regard to treatment. Being an active spine interventionalist, I take issue with the statement on kyphoplasty (p. 208). Despite the authors' claims, kyphoplasty has never been proven in the scientific literature to improve fracture-induced kyphosis over vertebroplasty. In my opinion, vertebroplasty is safer and equal to kyphoplasy in therapeutic effect. The role of each procedure in treating compression deformities has yet to be fully resolved.
Overall, this short but comprehensive work will benefit all those who routinely image the spine for acute or chronic injury.
By Dr. Brian J. Fortman
A
untMinnie.com contributing writer
June 27, 2006
Dr. Fortman is a neuroimaging specialist at Carolina Radiology Associates in Myrtle Beach, SC.
The opinions expressed in this review are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of AuntMinnie.com.
Copyright © 2006 AuntMinnie.com
