The spinal cord is one of the most important and most sensitive organs in the body. If it is damaged the nerve cells do not regenerate but are replaced with fibrous tissue. Thus injuries usually result in permanent damage. Therefore, the spinal cord is protected in a very special fashion. It goes through a bony canal within the spine; it is surrounded by protective bone everywhere except over t...

Introduction As a rule dead neurons in the adult central nervous system (CNS) are not replaced nor can their terminals regenerate when their axons are interrupted. Therefore any pathological process causing neuronal death generally has irreversible consequences. Alzheimer disease (AD) is a disabling senile dementia, the loss of reasoning and ability to care for oneself that afflicts about 11% o...

The world is witnessing an unprecedented, irremediable, and longlasting aging process. 2 Table 1 provides population decennial growth rates by 10 year age groups and shows marked differences across age groups. Figures 1 and 2 display the projected population distribution by 10 year age group. The graphs evidence quite well the ‘‘baby boomers’’ wave that is going to extend continuously the numbe...

OBJECTIVE To critically review and collate published information on feline degenerative joint disease (DJD) and identify areas in which information is lacking. STUDY DESIGN Critical literature review. METHODS Literature search through Pub Med, Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau Abstracts published in the English Language, or translated into English (January 1940-August 2008). RESULTS Althou...

If you have chronic back or neck pain, you may have degenerative disc disease. This degenerative spinal condition is not really a disease—it’s the normal wear and tear process of aging on your spine. Unfortunately, as we age, our intervertebral discs (pillow-like pads between the bones in your spine) lose their flexibility, elasticity, and shock absorbing characteristics. When this happens, the...

腰椎は運動器であり, 骨・椎間板・靱帯・関節などの変性を基にして生じる病態が腰椎変性疾患とされ, 具体的には腰椎椎間板ヘルニア・腰部脊柱管狭窄症・腰椎変性側弯/後弯などが挙げられる. 診断には病歴聴取・神経診察・画像診断が重要である. 多くの腰椎変性疾患に対して, 生活指導や内服などの保存的治療は有効である. 症状が急を要する場合や保存的治療が無効の場合には侵襲的治療が選択されるが, 本稿では最近の技術発展を紹介する. 一方, 現在行われている腰椎手術の95%以上は後方法である. 不安定性の高い症例や変形矯正を要する症例では固定術が必要であるが, 術後感染や隣接椎間障害, 医療経済上の問題などあり, 除圧術が見直されている.