| Thoracic Spine Surgery | | | | done. |
| | | | 5. ** 90% of all episodes of simple thoracic pain |
| The Spinal Column is also called the vertebral | | | | get better within 2 weeks with conservative |
| column. The bones in the spine are called | | | | management (analgesics - pain killers / relievers, |
| vertebrae (ver-ta-bray). The column starts at the | | | | keep it moving, avoid excessive rest)..... |
| base of the skull and continues to the pelvis. | | | | |
| Alternate layers of bone (vertebrae) and cartilage | | | | Thoracic spine fractures, especially those resulting |
| (car-til-ledge, the intervertebral discs) stack | | | | from high energy, can be devastating, often |
| vertically one on top of the other in the spinal | | | | resulting in permanent neurologic injury. Neurologic |
| column. The lattice-like structure of the cancellous | | | | deficit is encountered in 10-25% of all spinal |
| bone (cancel-lus, the spongy interior) in a vertebra | | | | column injuries, irrespective of the level of injury. |
| absorbs external pressure.... | | | | A deficit occurs in 15-20% of all thoracolumbar |
| | | | injuries. In the event of a complete neurologic |
| Simple Thoracic Pain | | | | injury, very few patients regain any useful motor |
| | | | function. Concomitant neurologic injury with spine |
| 1. ** The thoracic spine extends from the round | | | | fractures also adversely affects long-term |
| bump at the base of the neck (T1) all the way | | | | survival..... |
| down to T12 (about 4 - 5 " below the bra-strap). | | | | |
| 2. ** Simple Thoracic Pain implies pain arising due | | | | |
| to relatively minor problems with the muscles, | | | | Please log on to : Thoracic Spine Surgery |
| ligaments and joints of the thoracic spine. It | | | | Please log on to : |
| implies also that there is no spinal nerve root | | | | |
| involvement (trapped or pinched nerve, slipped | | | | We Care Core Values |
| disc). | | | | "We have a very simple business model that |
| 3. ** The pain can come on after a minor injury | | | | keeps you as the centre." |
| or sprain. In many cases no injury can be | | | | Having the industry's most elaborate and exclusive |
| identified, with the pain coming on say just after | | | | Patient Care and Clinical Coordination teams |
| sleeping badly in bed at night (see Postural | | | | stationed at each partner hospital, we provide you |
| Thoracic Ache). | | | | the smoothest and seamless care ever imagined. |
| 4. ** Investigations (X-rays and MRI scans) only | | | | With a ratio of one Patient Care Manager to five |
| show age related changes, reassuring the doctor | | | | patients our patient care standards are |
| and patient that no serious damage has been | | | | unmatched across the sub continent. |