Ultrasound examination is a popular, highly informative, accessible type of visualization of soft tissues and bone structures. With the development of technology, the capabilities of the method improved. Today, the devices are adapted for a detailed study of almost all organs of the body, including the opportunity to make an ultrasound of almost all parts of the spine.
A little bit about the spine
Pain in the myocardium, shortness of breath or stiffness of movements are not always associated with failures that occur in a particular organ. Frequent manifestations of various syndromes are disorders in the spine. The structure of the supporting bone structure of the human body includes a set of vertebrae connected by disks providing soft depreciation of the musculoskeletal system.
The spinal cord is laid inside the spine, from which the extensive and all-pervasive nervous system branches. There are also large blood vessels that supply organs and tissues with blood, nutrients, and oxygen. The slightest violations of the spinal column in any part of it lead to consequences for the whole organism. To identify the causes of the resulting pathologies in the complex of diagnostic measures, an ultrasound of the spine is done.
In what cases do you need an ultrasound
Indications for research:
- Pain in any part of the spine, pain in individual organs with an unknown source, subject to a preliminary study of the desired organ.
- Dizziness and frequent headaches.
- Changes in gait, posture caused by diseases of the bone, ligamentous tissue (kyphosis, scoliosis, etc.).
- Conditions after accidents, operations on the spine.
- Sharp fluctuations in blood pressure, not associated with vascular pathologies.
- Decrease in indicators of sight, hearing without obvious prerequisites.
- Unpleasant sensations in the limbs - burning, lowering the temperature of the arms, legs, indications, nervous tic, etc.
- Persistent or recurrent joint pain.
- Decreased memory, concentration, distraction.
- Pathology of the spinal cord, tears and sprains.
- Rheumatic conditions, breathing problems, etc.
Opportunities
To diagnose the condition of the spine, a two-dimensional ultrasound of the spine is most often required. This type of examination is often prescribed and gives a full picture of the condition of the spinal column. In the presence of special pathologies or to clarify some anatomical features in preparation for surgical interventions, a 3- or 4-dimensional study is performed, which allows you to see the problem place in all angles and features.
A complete ultrasound examination of all parts of the spine at a time is usually not required; diagnostics are carried out for any one area on which the patient's complaints are concentrated.
Ultrasound of the spine that shows?
- Degenerative changes (osteochondrosis). Ultrasound examination shows the degree of dystrophy of the intervertebral discs, connective tissue, allows you to determine the presence of osteophytes, compression of the vessels of the coronary system.
- The presence and magnitude of protrusion - rupture or integrity of the fibrous ring, the degree of protrusion of the disk (less than 0.9 cm - no pathology).
- Spondylolisthesis - displacement of the vertebral discs relative to the common axis and neighboring discs. The specialist assesses the degree of damage to nerve endings.
- Intervertebral hernias - it is possible to measure the amount of protrusion of the disc (more than 0.9 cm - the presence of a hernia is diagnosed), rupture of the fibrous ring, the formation of a hernia, the clamp of nerve roots.
- Pathologies and anatomical features of the cervical arteries.
- The condition of the ligaments of the spine.
- Various injuries, tears of soft tissues, fractures, cracks, dislocations in the spine.
- Cervical stenosis - vascular lumen, general condition of veins and nerve endings.
Diagnosis takes no more than 15 minutes. During the scan, a specialist can ask the patient questions to clarify some details. This approach is welcome and provides a more accurate picture for the formation of the diagnosis.
Ultrasound of the cervical
Examination of the cervical spine does not require any preparation, has no contraindications. Diagnosis is carried out in a sitting position or, if necessary, lying down. As with standard hardware research using this method, a colorless contact gel is applied to the skin surface. The specialist diagnoses using a special sensor, conducting them along the front of the neck.
Ultrasound of the cervical spine allows you to visualize the intervertebral discs, nerve endings, veins and blood vessels, ligaments and surrounding tissues on the monitor screen. The image is transmitted in black and white. To diagnose osteochondrosis, tests are performed - flexion and extension of the neck in the maximum range, this allows you to consider the displacement of the cervical vertebrae, the condition of the intervertebral discs.
Consider pathology
Diagnosis is informative. According to the data obtained, a specialist can determine many anomalies - deviations from the norm, features, and threats. Based on the overall picture, the doctor prescribes additional studies that specify the ultrasound parameters of the cervical spine.
Which shows:
- Congenital pathologies, features, defects in this part of the spinal column.
- Degenerative, age-related, acquired changes in the intervertebral tissue.
- Protrusions, hernias, neoplasms of the intervertebral discs.
- Changes in the cross section of the spinal canal.
- The presence or absence of defects in the lining of the spinal cord.
- Ligamentous tissue disorders, vertebral instability.
- Lesions of the central vertebral artery, spinal nerves.
Lumbar Examination - Preparation
For an ultrasound of the lumbar spine, the patient should be in a supine position. Research is carried out by the sensor through an anterior abdominal wall. This type of diagnosis requires preliminary preparation. Within 3 days before the appointed day of diagnosis, the patient excludes some products from the diet:
- Legumes
- Carbonated drinks.
- Dairy products.
- Yeast bread freshly baked.
- Limits the use of fresh vegetables and fruits.
Changes in nutrition are designed to reduce the process of gas formation in the intestine. As an additional measure, it is recommended to take pharmacological preparations - Espumisan or activated carbon to suppress flatulence. Ultrasound of the spine (lumbar) is carried out in the morning, the patient must be in the office on an empty stomach (5-8 hours without food).
What's in conclusion
At the slightest pain in the lower back, you should consult a doctor and undergo an ultrasound of the lumbar spine.
What the study shows:
- Rheumatoid synovitis.
- Pathology of development (scoliosis, lordosis, etc.).
- Pathologies caused by age-related changes in bones, discs, ligaments.
- Changes in the intervertebral discs (hernia, protrusion).
- Allows you to evaluate the spinal canal, the condition of the spinal cord and its membranes, nerve endings.
- Detect birth trauma, pathology and developmental abnormalities.
- Neoplasms of various etiologies.
- Inflammation of the ligamentous tissue (yellow ligament).
Ultrasound of the spine is not a study on the basis of which a final diagnosis is made. To get a complete picture of the condition of any part of the spine, laboratory tests, a series of tests, tests, and hardware diagnostics are necessary. What kind of research methods will be required to determine the cause and consequences of the disease, the doctor determines, based on intermediate data and suspicions of the presence of a particular pathology.
Sacrum
For back pain, the patient is often prescribed an examination of another area of the spine - the sacral region. This type of research has become available relatively recently and allows us to identify the following range of problems:
- Instability or stability of the vertebrae.
- Disk offsets.
- Lumbosacral injuries.
- Compression of the vertebrae and cartilage.
Diagnostic measures are designed to assess the condition of the spine in this department, to monitor the course of therapy, to identify pathologies.
Where to do an ultrasound
To date, hardware for ultrasound diagnostics can be found in almost any clinic. This technique is simple to implement, very informative, and therefore, experts in many cases turn to its help. Ultrasound of the spine can be done in state clinics, private consultative diagnostic centers or in inpatient departments of large hospitals.
Ultrasound diagnostics is an absolutely safe way to get a large amount of information about many internal organs, systems and processes. This type of research has no contraindications; it is prescribed for pregnant women and infants.
The ultrasound method and modern technical equipment allow us to consider almost all parts of the body, displaying a picture on the monitor screen. Unfortunately, the study of the thoracic spine remains unavailable. Specialists are developing a sensor, probably soon ultrasound scanning will be possible for this area of the spinal column.
The main task of the patient is to find a specialist who can reliably decrypt the results and give them a correct assessment.