Spine Injuries and Disorders
Educational information. Individual clinical review of this presentation by Dr. Ehsan is not yet documented. It does not replace personal medical evaluation.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Read the original source
MedlinePlus data edition September 26, 2026. Imported September 27, 2026. These dates do not indicate a new clinical review of the article.
Your backbone, or spine, is made up of 26 bone discs called vertebrae. The vertebrae protect your spinal cord and allow you to stand and bend. A number of problems can change the structure of the spine or damage the vertebrae and surrounding tissue. They include:
- Infections
- Injuries
- Tumors
- Conditions, such as ankylosing spondylitis and scoliosis
- Bone changes that come with age, such as spinal stenosis and herniated disks
Spinal diseases often cause pain when bone changes put pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. They can also limit movement. Treatments differ by disease, but sometimes they include back braces and surgery.
Symptoms, tests and care options
Further reading selected by MedlinePlus. Links open the original organizations’ websites.
- About Neurointerventions · Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery
- Artificial Disc Replacement (ADR) · North American Spine Society
- Back Surgery: When Is It a Good Idea? · Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- CT Scan of the Spine · Radiological Society of North America
- Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Studies · National Library of Medicine
- Lumbar and Cervical Discography · North American Spine Society
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