Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Acute calcific discitis in adults.

Jamal Bazzi1, John R Dimar, Steven D Glassman

  • 1Kenton D. Leatherman Spine Center, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.

American Journal of Orthopedics (Belle Mead, N.J.)
|April 2, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Acute calcific discitis, a condition typically seen in children, can rarely affect adults, causing severe back pain. This report details two adult cases, highlighting their resemblance to pediatric presentations and successful non-surgical treatment.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Durability of One- and Two-Level Lumbar Fusion Surgeries: A Survivorship Analysis Based on Revision Surgery Rates.

Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews·2026
Same author

Carbon Fiber Implants in Spine Surgery.

JBJS reviews·2026
Same author

What determines patient satisfaction after surgery for grade 2 lumbar spondylolisthesis? A Spine CORe™ analysis of QOD data.

Neurosurgical focus·2026
Same author

What are the predictors of prolonged length of stay following single-stage lumbar fusion for grade 2 spondylolisthesis? A Spine CORe™ analysis of QOD data.

Neurosurgical focus·2026
Same author

What factors predict return to work after surgery for grade 1 lumbar spondylolisthesis? A 5-year Spine CORe™ analysis of QOD data.

Neurosurgical focus·2026
Same author

What are the predictors of nonroutine discharge after surgery for grade 2 lumbar spondylolisthesis? A Spine CORe™ analysis of QOD data.

Neurosurgical focus·2026

Area of Science:

  • Orthopedics
  • Radiology
  • Pediatric Medicine

Background:

  • Acute calcific discitis is a recognized condition in children, characterized by disc calcification and back pain.
  • While rare, adult cases of acute calcific discitis have been documented, presenting with sudden severe back pain and characteristic radiographic findings.
  • Idiopathic adult calcific discitis has not been previously reported in orthopedic literature.

Observation:

  • This report details two adult patients presenting with symptomatic thoracic disc calcifications.
  • The radiographic findings in these adult patients closely mimicked those typically observed in pediatric cases.
  • Clinical presentation included the abrupt onset of severe back pain.

Findings:

  • The adult cases exhibited radiographic calcifications similar to those seen in discograms.
  • Both patients experienced relief of symptoms with conservative, non-surgical, symptomatic treatment.
  • These findings suggest that acute calcific discitis, even in adults, may share similarities with pediatric presentations.

Implications:

  • This study expands the understanding of acute calcific discitis by reporting adult cases.
  • It suggests that adult calcific discitis, previously considered rare, may be under-recognized.
  • The findings support non-surgical management as an effective treatment for symptomatic adult cases.

Related Experiment Videos