THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TREATMENT OF CERVICAL SPINE PATHOLOGIES ASSOCIATED WITH UNDIFFERENTIATED CONNECTIVE TISSUE DYSPLASIA IN CHILDREN

Abstract

Introduction. The article background a necessity to timely perform conservative treatment of cervical spine pathologies associated with undifferentiated connective tissue dysplasia in children. Their treatment should consider all structural features of the cervical spine, its blood supply and concomitant pathologies which may be identified by diagnostic algorithms of multidisciplinary approach. Material and methods. In 2018-2020, 177 children with cervical spine pathologies associated with undifferentiated connective tissue dysplasia were conservatively treated in Morozovskaya Children’s City Clinical Hospital. All children were randomized into 3 groups which were prescribed different treatment modalities. In Group I, patients had standard treatment (exercise therapy, isometric gymnastics, massage, apparatus therapy); in Group II, head holders were added to standard treatment; in Group III, medicamentous therapy was added to standard treatment and head holders (magnesium lactate dihydrate and pyridoxine hydrochloride, levocarnitine). The instrumental examination revealed that all studied children had phenotypic signs of syndromes of undifferentiated connective tissue dysplasia and signs of pathology in the cervical spine. The average follow-up period was 24 months (6 months - 2 years). The average age of patients was 10 ± 3 years (5-17 years). Results and discussion. In order to assess the effectiveness of treatment, a comparative analysis of findings obtained at objective examinations was made before treatment and in 6 and 12 months after it. The examinations included: measurements of linear blood flow velocity in the vertebral arteries with ultrasound Doppler of the brachycephalic vessels; X-ray measurements of the cervical spine (Cruvelier joint and various displacements in vertebrae). The analysis performed has shown that the best results were registered in Group III. Conclusion. Findings obtained after catamnestic and instrumental examinations have showed that the complex treatment of cervical spine pathology, associated with undifferentiated connective tissue dysplasia in children, should include not only standard treatment (physical exercise trainings, massage, apparatus therapy) but also cervical orthoses and medicamentous therapy. Such a combined treatment has more pronounced therapeutic effect.