[Disk calcifications in children. Apropos of 17 cases]

Abstract

Seventeen cases of calcification of the intervertebral discs in childhood have been seen. Only cervical lesions gave symptoms. In several cases the lesions were multifocal (cervical and thoracic) and there was a familial history in one case. Two cases were observed for 10 and 8 years respectively. It was noted that cervical calcifications tend to disappear while thoracic ones persist but are asymptomatic. The authors postulate that this is due to differences in the physiology of the nucleus and in the biomechanics at different levels of the spine. A high frequency of associated spinal deformities was noted. For this reason, the late prognosis must be guarded.