Cervico-thoracic disc protrusions in controlled compressed-air diving: clinical and MRI findings.
Prevalence of cervical and thoracic disc protrusions was investigated by MRI in 24 military long-term compressed-air divers and 24 controls. A total of 26 disc protrusions (17 cervical disc protrusions) were detected in 58% of the divers whereas 18 protrusions were detected in 38 % of the controls (13 disc cervical protrusions). There was no significant difference between groups and no correlation with the diving experience. Neurological examination revealed no clinical abnormalities. In contrast to a recent study, our results suggest that long-term divers are at no increased risk for accumulating spinal disc protrusions or intramedullary abnormalities.
Bartsch
T
T
Dept of Neurology, Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel, Germany.
Cordes
P
P
Keil
R
R
Reuter
M
M
Hutzelmann
A
A
Tetzlaff
K
K
Deuschl
G
G
D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology; D004242:Diving / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology