The Spine

Technically, spondylosis is a form of arthritis—spinal osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis) to be exact.

Spinal compression fractures can be caused by many things. While osteoporosis is the most common cause, certain types of cancer that either originate in the spine or spread from another part of your body (e.g., lung, breast) can cause a spinal bone to break or fracture.

A compression fracture, or vertebral compression fracture (VCF), is a common fracture of the spine.

Spinal fractures can vary widely in severity. Some fractures are very serious injuries that result from high-energy trauma and require emergency treatment.

Spinal stenosis is like the lime build-up on the inside of a garden hose. Over time, it narrows the diameter of the hose, just as spinal stenosis narrows the spinal canal.

A common cause of low back and leg pain is lumbar spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis most often occurs in adults over 60 years old. Pressure on the nerve roots is equally common in men and women.

Technically, spondylosis is a form of arthritis—spinal osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis) to be exact.

Vertebral osteomyelitis is a bone infection usually caused by bacteria.

Early diagnosis and treatment of spinal cancer is essential to care.

A spinal cord injury disrupts messages between the brain and the body by severing.

Myelomeningocele, or spina bifida cystica, is a birth defect that occurs in the early weeks of fetal development.

A spinal fracture is when you break a bone in your spine—that's the basic definition.

The vertebral column (bones), the intervertebral discs, the dural sac (the covering around the spinal cord) or the space around the spinal cord may become infected in a number of circumstances.

Technically, spondylosis is a form of arthritis—spinal osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis) to be exact.

This animation describes spinal stenosis, a condition in which degenerative changes in the spine lead to pain and weakness in the back and legs.

Spinal refers to the spine. Stenosis is a medical term used to describe a condition where a normal-size opening has become narrow.

For patients with degenerative spinal conditions, one cause of their back pain may be synovial cysts.

A spinal tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue. The tumor’s cells may multiply slowly or very quickly.

Spine tumors may arise from any of the structures of the spine or the spinal column. They may arise in the cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back) or lumbosacral (low back) regions.