WIDI - CC2009-T7 wedge fracture

CC2009-T7 wedge fracture

History

79 yo female with back pain. No history of recent trauma.

Exam

frontal and lateral views of the thoracic spine

Prior Study

none

Findings

Technique:

The AP view is slightly under penetrated. The upper thoracic spine is limited by overlying bones and soft tissues on the lateral view.

Findings:

Prevertebral and paravertebral soft tissues:

The right or left paravertebral line is not widened. There is no widening of the paravertebral line to suggest regional edema or hematoma.

Spinal alignment:

The vertebral bodies and spinous processes are normally aligned.

Vertebral bodies, posterior elements and ribs:

There are 12 rib-bearing vertebral bodies.

There is anterior wedging and a compression fracture of the T7 vertebral body. The posterior elements are intact. There is no end plate avulsion fracture, but there is compression of the superior end plate of T7.

There is no displacement of a fracture fragment into the soft tissues or spinal canal.

There is subcortical bone sclerosis and compaction of the trabecular pattern of the superior T7 vertebral body and end plate from fracture.

There are no lytic or sclerotic lesions of the thoracic spine.

Disc spaces, facet joints, and neural foramina:

There is disc space widening with sclerotic changes of the superior end plate and subchondral bone of T7.

There is no subluxation or rotational abnormality at a disc space.

There is no widening, rotational abnormality, or displacement of facets at any motion segment. There is no facet joint or foraminal narrowing other than from degenerative change.

Additional soft tissues and bones (included neck, chest, and abdomen):

There is no abnormality of the soft tissues and bones of the included neck and upper extremities other than from degenerative change.

There is blunting of the left costophrenic angle.

The included abdomen is normal.

There are post surgical changes with surgical clips in the left axilla.

Other findings:

There are no other existing conditions that might be contributing to symptoms which can or should be further evaluated non-emergently.

Impression

There is anterior wedging and a compression fracture of the T7 vertebral body. There is disc space widening with sclerotic changes of the superior end plate and subchondral bone of T7. There is no evidence of paravertebral edema or hematoma and the fracture is likely chronic.