Top

Child's Nervous System

Published in:

01-01-2015 | Original Paper

Surgical treatment for idiopathic intervertebral disc calcification in a child: case report and review of the literature

Authors: Jianjun Chu, Tao Wang, Shaobao Pei, Zongsheng Yin

Published in: Child's Nervous System | Issue 1/2015

Abstract

Purpose

Intervertebral disc calcification (IDC) is rare in children. Conservative treatment has been recommended for the majority of cases. We describe surgical treatment of a case of IDC with progressive neurological impairment and review the literature relevant to this rare entity and its management.

Methods

A 16-year-old boy presented with sudden onset of severe neck pain, radiating into his left shoulder. Three months later, he developed neurological symptoms and signs with a progressive motor and sensory loss of his left upper limb.

Results

Anterior cervical corpectomy with fusion and instrumentation was performed. Neurologic deficits completely resolved within 1 week. After 1-year follow-up, radiological images showed solid fusion and no further compression.

Conclusion

Surgical decompression should be recommended for cases with acutely progressive and severe neurological impairments in IDC and a good result can be obtained. When surgery is needed, anterior decompression is usually used in cervical lesion, while in thoracic and lumbar area, posterior approach is suggested.

Baron A (1924) Über eine neue Erkrankung der Wirbelsäule. Jahrb Kinderheilkd 104:357

Tsutsumi S, Yasumoto Y, Ito M (2011) Idiopathic intervertebral disk calcification in childhood: a case report and review of literature. Childs Nerv Syst 27:1045–1051PubMedCrossRef

Melnick JC, Silverman FN (1963) Intervertebral disk calcification in childhood. Radiology 80:399–408PubMedCrossRef

Harvet G, De Pontual L, Neven B et al (2004) Paediatric intervertebral calcifications: two cases report and review of the literature. Arch Pediatr 11:1457–1461PubMedCrossRef

Eyring EJ, Peterson CA, Bjornson DR (1964) Intervertebral-disc calcification in childhood: a distinct clinical syndrome. J Bone Joint Surg Am 46:1432–1441PubMed

Lernout C, Haas H, Rubio A, Griffet J (2009) Pediatric intervertebral disk calcification in childhood: three case reports and review of literature. Childs Nerv Syst 25:1019–1023PubMedCrossRef

Smith RA, Vohman MD, Dimon JH 3rd, Averett JE Jr, Milsap JH Jr (1977) Calcified cervical intervertebral discs in children: report of three cases. J Neurosurg 46:233–238PubMedCrossRef

Sonnabend DH, Taylor TK, Chapman GK (1982) Intervertebral disc calcification syndromes in children. J Bone Joint Surg (Br) 64:25–31

Aliberti G, Pulignano I, Schiappoli A et al (2003) Bone metabolism in ochronotic patients. J Intern Med 254:296–300PubMedCrossRef

10.

Park SM, Kim ES, Sung DH (2005) Cervical radiculopathy caused by neural foraminal migration of a herniated calcified intervertebral disk in childhood: a case report. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 86:2214–2217PubMedCrossRef

11.

Coventry MB (1970) Calcification in a cervical disc with anterior protrusion and dysphagia. A case report. J Bone Joint Surg Am 52:1463–1466PubMed

12.

Li M, Rong W, Pan X, Yu L (2012) Single-level calcified cervical disk herniation in a 13-year-old girl. Orthopedics 35:e1297–e1301PubMedCrossRef

13.

Fu Z, Shi J, Jia L Jr, Yuan W Jr, Guan Z (2011) Intervertebral thoracic disc calcification associated with ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament in an eleven-year-old child. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 36:E808–E810CrossRef

14.

Causey AL, Evans OB, Lewis-Abney K (1996) Intervertebral disk calcification: an unusual cause of acquired torticollis in childhood. Pediatr Emerg Care 12:356–359PubMedCrossRef

15.

Yaniv M, Bar-Ziv J, Wientroub S (1999) Herniation of calcified intervertebral disk in a lumbar vertebral body presenting as acute scoliosis in a child. A case report and literature review. J Pediatr Orthop B 8:306–307PubMed

16.

Dai L-Y, Ye H, Qian Q-R (2004) The natural history of cervical disc calcification in children. J Bone Joint Surg Am 86:1467–1472PubMed

17.

Bajard X, Renault F, Benharrats T, Mary P, Madi F, Vialle R (2010) Intervertebral disc calcification with neurological symptoms in children: report of conservative treatment in two cases. Childs Nerv Syst 26:973–978PubMedCrossRef

18.

Swick HM (1975) Calcification of intervertebral discs in childhood. J Pediatr 86:364–369PubMedCrossRef

19.

Hoeffel JC, Bernard C, Schmit P, Denardaud L (1990) Herniation of calcifying discopathy in childhood: report of three cases. Eur J Pediatr 149:695–697PubMedCrossRef

20.

Morrison S, Lewin JS, Richardson A, Cohen A (1997) Radiological case of the month. Childhood intervertebral disk calcification. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 151:1157–1158PubMedCrossRef

21.

Mohanty S, Sutter B, Mokry M, Ascher PW (1992) Herniation of calcified cervical intervertebral disk in children. Surg Neurol 38:407–410PubMedCrossRef

22.

Gerlach R, Zimmermann M, Kellermann S, Lietz R, Raabe A, Seifert V (2001) Intervertebral disc calcification in childhood—a case report and review of the literature. Acta Neurochir (Wein) 143:89–93CrossRef

23.

Schaser KD, Stover JF, Kaeaeb MJ, Haas NP, Mittlmeier T (2003) Mild cervical spine trauma showing symptomatic calcified cervical disc herniation in a child: a case report. Spine 28:E93–E94PubMed

24.

Oga M, Terada K, Kikuchi N, Oda Y, Sugioka Y (1993) Herniation of calcified cervical intervertebral disc causes dissociated motor loss in a child. Spine 18:2347–2350PubMedCrossRef

25.

Yang HS, Chen DY, Yuan W, Yang LL, Tsai N, Lin QS (2010) Paresis associated with aconuresis caused by intervertebral disc calcification at C7-T1: a case report and review of the literature. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 35:E434–E439CrossRef

26.

Hoffman AI, Lambiase RE, Levine SM (1998) Intervertebral cervical disk calcication requiring operative management in a child. AJR Am J Roentgenol 171(3):898–899PubMedCrossRef

27.

Aulisa L, Pitta L, Aulisa AG, Mastantuoni G, Pola E, Leone A (2003) Lumbar nerve root walled by a calcified herniated mass in a young patient. Childs Nery Syst 19:384–386CrossRef

28.

Peck FC Jr (1957) A calcified thoracic intervertebral disk with herniation and spinal cord compression in a child. Case report. J Neurosurg 14:105–109PubMedCrossRef

29.

Mahlfed K, Kayser R, Grahoff H (2002) Permanent thoracic myelopathy resulting from herniation of a calcified intervertebral disk in a child. J Pediatr Orthop B 11:6–9

30.

MacCartee CC Jr, Griffin PP, Byrd EB (1972) Ruptured calcified thoracic disc in a child. Report of a case. J Bone Joint Surg Am 54:1272–1274PubMed

31.

Reale F, Gambacorta D (1985) Calcified lumbar disc protrusion in an adolescent. Surg Neurol 24:661–662PubMedCrossRef

Title: Surgical treatment for idiopathic intervertebral disc calcification in a child: case report and review of the literature
Authors: Jianjun Chu
Tao Wang
Shaobao Pei
Zongsheng Yin
Publication date: 01-01-2015
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Child's Nervous System / Issue 1/2015
Print ISSN: 0256-7040
Electronic ISSN: 1433-0350
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-014-2539-8

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Surgical treatment for idiopathic intervertebral disc calcification in a child: case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2015

Cranial and spinal oligodendrogliomatosis: a case report and review of the literature

MRI characteristics of cerebellar tubers and their longitudinal changes in children with tuberous sclerosis complex

Neuroepithelial cyst of the fourth ventricle

The Roman Empire legacy of Galen (129–200 ad)

The role of resection alone in select children with intracranial ependymoma: the Canadian Pediatric Brain Tumour Consortium experience

Achondroplasia in children: correlation of ventriculomegaly, size of foramen magnum and jugular foramina, and emissary vein enlargement