Column

The spine is a complex structure consisting anatomical bony structures hinged together (vertebrae) and a system of muscles and ligaments that confer functional unit. Holds head, shoulders, body weight, allows us to stand upright, articular trunk movements, serves as an anchor point for muscles and internal organs and protects the spinal cord.

It has three distinct areas: the upper or cervical region, seven vertebrae; the middle or dorsal region, comprise twelve vertebrae; and the lumbar region or lower, consists of five vertebrae. The twenty-four vertebrae that make up the three zones are mobile and between each pair of vertebrae is spongy cartilage, o disco. Intervertebral disks act as shock-absorbing impacts. At the bottom of the column there are two other regions formed by welded vertebrae lacking mobility, are the sacral area consists of five vertebrae and the coccygeal, formed by three or four vertebrae by person.

Main problems of the spine

• Backache
  Is responsible for a high percentage of sick leave and is among the top reasons for consulting a physician. Arthritis, degenerative wear and breakage affecting the joints and the disks, and a variety of other abnormalities that cause pain, numbness and weakness are problems that can affect the back. The problems in the lumbar region may affect the leg and foot, while problems in the cervical region may affect the arms and hands.
• Fractures
  Broken vertebrae. In elderly can be treated with minimally invasive methods such as kyphoplasty, by injecting a special cement which lift the vertebral body collapse. Sometimes fixings shall be required by rods and screws in the vertebral pedicle.
• Sprains
  Ligament injuries.
• Pinched nerve
  Radiculopathy or nerve impingement is an injury to the nerve root causing motor or sensory loss. It can be treated in a minimally invasive endoscopic removal by column, and when this is not possible using the classical laminectomy.
• Vertebral instabilities
  Require stabilization by fixing, sometimes you can make so percutaneous, namely, with minimum approach.
• Osteoarthritis
  Pathology of the intervertebral disc
• Discitis
  Discitis is an inflammatory process involving the intervertebral disc and the vertebral body surface.
• Cifosis
  La cifosis de espalda es una curvatura anormal de la columna que provoca un arqueamiento en forma de joroba o postura agachada.
• Scoliosis
  La escoliosis es una desviación de la columna vertebral de lado a lado que provoca una curvatura en forma de S o de C.
• Narrow channel.
  Sometimes distractions can be treated by lamellar interapofisarios, that can be placed percutaneously