What is Kummell disease?
Kummell disease, or avascular necrosis of a vertebral body, presents as vertebral osteonecrosis typically affecting a thoracic vertebra with compression deformity, intravertebral vacuum cleft, and exaggerated kyphosis weeks to months after a minor traumatic injury.
What is the procedure for vertebroplasty?
Vertebroplasty is a procedure in which a special cement is injected into a fractured vertebra — with the goal of relieving your spinal pain and restoring your mobility. Not all people with fractured vertebrae are candidates for the procedure, however.
Can you get AVN in your spine?
While AVN can affect any bone, it rarely occurs in your spinal bones (thoracic vertebrae). AVN of the spine is also known as vertebral osteonecrosis or Kummel disease.
How painful is vertebroplasty?
There may be some soreness for a few days at the puncture site that may be relieved with an ice pack. Most patients experience pain relief within 24 to 48 hours after surgery. A return to more strenuous physical activities, such as participating in sports or heavy lifting, might not be advised for up to 6 weeks.
Do they put you to sleep for kyphoplasty?
Because kyphoplasty is performed under general anesthesia, you will rest and be observed during recovery for a period of time following the procedure. For some patients, this may only be a few hours while others may stay overnight.
Can AVN heal itself?
A healthy person can sometimes recover from AVN, especially if it was caused by an accident. The body can repair damaged blood vessels and rebuild damaged bone. If alcohol or steroid use caused AVN, stopping their use might let the body heal itself. The first treatments can be pain medications.
What is Kummel disease of the body?
Kummel disease is the eponym for avascular necrosis of the vertebral body after a vertebral compression fracture. As our population ages, the prevalence of osteoporosis, its most common fragility fracture (vertebral compression fracture), and Kummel disease will increase.
What are the five stages of Kummel disease?
Five Clinical Stages of Kummel Disease 1. Initial injury: Often minimal trauma or trauma ranging from mild to severe. (Imaging typically not performed, although normal if performed.) 2. Posttraumatic period: Characterized by minimal or minor residual back pain without loss of function (continuation of activities of daily living).
Which radiographs are used in the workup of Kummel disease?
Plain upright anteroposterior and lateral radiographs are the standard initial study for Kummel disease. Flexion/extension radiographs may be ordered to detect pseudarthrosis (motion through the vertebral body), which, along with an intervertebral air-filled cleft, are considered classic for Kummel disease.
What is intervertebral gas in Kummel?
Intervertebral gas is a radiographic and computed tomographic finding indicative of Kummel disease. In this case, the fluid and gas escaped from the fracture and descended along the right psoas muscles, creating the false appearance of a psoas abscess (D).
