[Intervertebral disk calcification in children]

Abstract

Thirty one intervertebral space calcifications (I.S.C.) were studied in 21 children (12 boys, 9 girls), with mean age of 7 years; 25 calcifications had been followed for an average of 71.5 months. The main symptom was pain (Crisis) which relieved in a delay of 1 month in 70 per cent of cases. "Crisis" and radiographic fragmentation of the calcification are both criteria of going out of 18 calcifications, in a delay ranged from 28 days to 6 months. The calcification appears as a sign which disclose a general disease of spine, interesting vertebral body, growth plate, and disc; therefore we have observed 15 lesions due to growth disorders in 16 cervical I.S.C., at dorsal level we have described 4 cases of intrasomatic cavitation containing calcified material, opened in the intervertebral space. This growth disturbance has been noted either on first radiograph, or has appeared later, after disappearance of the I.S.C.; we found more over absence of listel and lesion of multiple plates distant from the calcification. This disease is identified to vertebral osteochondrosis where residual deformities are more worrying than the benign calcification; they have concluded management of I.S.C. as early as possible to avoid great deformities of vertebral bodies.