Adjacent Segment Disease Occurred in Cervical Spine Due to Trauma Rather Than Degeneration: Observation from Skeletal Scintigraphy in a Case of Tetraplegia
Bo-Jen Chen1, Wen-Hsuan Hsiao2 and Shin-Tsu Chang2,3*
1 School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
2 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
3 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
*Corresponding Author: Shin-Tsu Chang, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan. Address: No. 386, Dazhong 1st Rd., Zuoying Dist., Kaohsiung 813414; No. 161, Section 6, Minquan East Road, Neihu District, Taipei 114201, Taiwan. ORCID of STC: 0000-0003-4005-2094
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58624/SVOAOR.2024.04.085
Received: November 19, 2024 Published: December 03, 2024
Abstract
Cervical adjacent segment disease (ASD) is a symptomatic condition that may occurr after cervical spine surgery, accounting for approximately 6% of cases requiring a second surgery. However, some cases may lack abnormal radiographic findings, complicating both the diagnosis and treatment planning. We present the case of a 66-year-old male who developed cervical ASD following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion performed due to a traffic accident. The diagnosis was made using single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT), which disclosed increased uptake in the C3 to C7 vertebral bodies. We suggest that SPECT/CT should be considered for patients presenting with pain following cervical spine surgery to achieve a more accurate diagnosis of ASD.
Keywords: Adjacent Segment Disease, SPECT/CT, Spinal Cord Injury, Cervical Spine, Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion, Scintigraphic Rehabilitation, Adjacent Segment Degeneration
Citation: Chen BJ, Hsiao WH, Chang ST. Adjacent Segment Disease Occurred in Cervical Spine Due to Trauma Rather Than Degeneration: Observation from Skeletal Scintigraphy in a Case of Tetraplegia. SVOA Orthopaedics 2024, 4:6, 161-166. doi: 10.58624/SVOAOR.2024.04.085