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- Talk
- UK
Prevalance and Severity of Disc Degeneration on MRI in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Description
The video presentation features Conor Boylan, a final-year medical student from the University of Birmingham, discussing his research on disc degeneration within the context of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). He begins by explaining the nature of scoliosis as a three-dimensional spinal deformity, emphasizing its prevalence among adolescents and its associated health complications such as back pain and psychosocial issues.
Conor presents findings on the baseline rate of disc degeneration among conservatively managed AIS patients at the Royal Orthopedic Hospital in Birmingham, highlighting that his research aimed to quantify the prevalence and severity of this condition preoperatively. Utilizing retrospective MRI data from patients aged 10 to 16, he identifies that approximately 9.6% of patients exhibited signs of disc degeneration, with clinically significant degeneration affecting about 3% of them.
He notes that the majority of the affected patients had degeneration at one level, and discusses the common levels where degeneration occurs, notably L5/S1. Conor also explores concurrent spinal pathologies found alongside disc degeneration. Additionally, he acknowledges the study's limitations, particularly its retrospective nature and reliance on radiology reports.
In the Q&A segment, Conor answers inquiries regarding the timeline of disc degeneration post-surgery, how it affects treatment decisions, and evidence regarding the relationship between the extent of spinal fusion and subsequent disc degeneration. He stresses the importance of this research for surgical decision-making and enhancing patient counseling about potential outcomes following surgical intervention.