Localized osteophytic changes in the thoracic vertebra: an osteological and cadaveric study

Abstract

Vertebral spinal osteophytes remain an urgent problem for clinicians of various specialties due to the fact that they can cause problems with food consumption, breathing, and sometimes cause compression of blood vessels and spinal cord. Clinical presentations encompass pain, often radiating, reduced function, stiffness, tenderness in the joints, limited movement, nerve compression, and bone pressing against tissues. Vertebral osteophytes are frequently observed in cadaveric anatomy and skeletal remains. Many instances go untreated or undetected. Several cross-sectional and prospective studies have been conducted and published concerning the cervical and lumbar spine. The current study was carried out to observe the incidence of osteophytes in the thoracic vertebrae and to document their frequency of distribution and prevalence. To study the frequency of distribution of thoracic osteophytes was reviewed in 25 cadavers (over a period of 5 years) & 188 dry thoracic vertebras (T1-T12) of south Indian population of unknown age & sex at the Department of Anatomy, MVJ MC& RH, Bangalore. The study meticulously enumerates the positions of osteophytes across different thoracic levels, aiming to investigate and understand their recurrence patterns. Incidence was expressed in terms of frequency and percentage. Incidence of osteophytes was documented in 6 cadavers and 33 dry bones which accounts for 24 % and 17.6 % respectively. Out of these, majority of them were recognized on to right side than on left side of the vertebras. The frequency of osteophytes was most commonly seen at mid thoracic level (T4-T8) followed by T9, T10 and T2. The data we received allow us to form an idea not only about the prevalence of vertebral spinal osteophytes in general, but also about the specific features of their location. Knowledge regarding the thoracic osteophytes is further required for detailed study along with dry bones. A comparative analysis of the prevalence of vertebral spinal osteophytes among people of different specialties, different ethnicities and age groups is important in further research, which will complement the obtained results.