Tests & Treatments at University of Colorado Hospital
Tests for Spine Disorders and Spine Injuries
History and Physical Examination
Your doctor will ask you questions about your daily activities and previous injuries and illnesses. He or she also will test your range of motion and feel the area that is painful to locate the source.
X-rays
An X-ray examination helps to show breaks or defects in the bones of the back and the spine.
Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
A CT scan shows damage to muscles and other soft tissues.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
An MRI test shows three-dimensional pictures of the muscles and other soft tissues.
Myelogram
A myelogram uses an injection of liquid dye into the spinal column. The dye allows doctors to see the spine and nerves. The test reveals bulging disks, tumors or bone spurs that may be putting pressure on the nerves.
Bone Scan
A bone scan uses an injection of radioactive material, which attaches to the bone. The material reveals spots where bone has broken down or fractured.
Treatments for Spine Disorders and Spine Injuries
Your primary care doctor will treat pain in your back and spine conservatively. Conservative treatments include:
- Rest
- Ice packs to control swelling
- Medications to reduce inflammation and control pain
- Exercise to strengthen the back muscles
- Heat pads to relieve muscle spasms
If your back pain persists, your primary care doctor may refer you to a specialist for further treatment. These treatments include:
Steroid injections
Steroid injections are used to reduce inflammation and pain. However, they do not treat the direct source of the pain.
Electrical Nerve Stimulation
Delivering a mild electrical current to the nerves can help to relieve pain. Doctors administer the current through electrodes attached to a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) unit.
Discectomy
A discectomy is the removal of a portion of the disc that has bulged, or herniated, between the vertebrae. The bulge can put pressure on the nerves and cause pain.
Disc Replacement
Discs that have degenerated can cause chronic pain and may need to be removed. A new procedure allows doctors to remove the damaged disc and replace it with an artificial disc. This procedure is used instead of spinal fusion surgery.
Kyphoplasty
Kyphoplasty is used to treat spine fractures. The procedure involves inserting a thin tube into the fractured vertebra. The tube is fitted with a small balloon, which the surgeon inflates. This pushes apart the end points of the fracture and creates a cavity. After removing the balloon, the surgeon fills the space with bone cement to stabilize the vertebra.
Spinal Decompression
Spinal decompression is used to relieve pressure on the nerves caused by narrowing (stenosis) of the spinal canal. The procedure removes bone and soft tissue that creates the pressure.
Spinal Fusion Surgery
Spinal fusion surgery is used when there is too much disc degeneration to allow replacement. The damaged discs are removed and the vertebrae are fused to make the spine stable.
Spinal fusion surgery can also be used to treat scoliosis (curved spine), spondylolisthesis (slipped vertebra) and spine fractures. There are many different types of fusion procedures. Your doctor will choose the one that best fits your condition.
Vertebroplasty
Vertebroplasty is used to treat spine fractures. The procedure involves inserting a small needle into the fractured vertebra. The surgeon then injects bone cement into the vertebra to stabilize the fracture.