title: Cervico-thoracic disc protrusions in controlled compressed-air diving: clinical and MRI findings.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Neurology, Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bartsch
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cordes
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Keil
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reuter
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hutzelmann
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tetzlaff
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Deuschl
mesh_terms: 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