Systemic sclerosis-associated compressive cervical calcinosis: intersection of degenerative spine instability, lesional spinal cord compression, and traumatic spinal cord injury. Illustrative case

Abstract

BACKGROUND Tumoral calcinosis, mass-like calcium deposition into the soft tissues, is an uncommon manifestation of the systemic sclerosis subtype of scleroderma. When this process affects the spinal epidural space, it can cause canal narrowing and place the spinal cord at significant risk of injury. OBSERVATIONS Here a 62-year-old female with systemic sclerosis and no previous evidence of spinal cord compromise who developed acute spinal cord injury and quadriparesis after a mechanical fall is described. She was found to have a large dorsal epidural calcified mass compressing her cervical spinal cord. She underwent medical management for acute spinal cord compression as well as surgical management for acute spinal cord injury and degenerative spine disease. Her case illustrates a rare etiology of simultaneous degenerative spine instability and lesional spinal cord compression with acute spinal cord injury. LESSONS Tumor calcinosis leading to acute spinal cord injury in the setting of systemic sclerosis is an uncommon but critical entity to recognize in patients with scleroderma and may require the physician to use a combination of medical and surgical management strategies from each of these categories of spine pathology.

Photobiomodulation therapy enhances neural differentiation of dental pulp stem cells via ERK1/2 signaling pathway

“…1 Although the rates of survival in SCI patients have steadily increased over decades, it still worsens the quality of patients' life and causes a heavy economic burden on patient's family. 2 The regeneration of spinal cord axons is severely impaired due to the attenuated capacity of proliferation of neurons, the formation of necrosis cavum and glial scar, and the deprivation of neurotrophic factor after SCI. 3 Traditional surgical treatment only focuses on temporarily stabilizing the diseases, relieving symptoms, and healing the injured lesions.…”

“…Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most severe neurological system diseases that results in temporary or permanent dysfunction of sensation, motor, and autonomic movement 1 . Although the rates of survival in SCI patients have steadily increased over decades, it still worsens the quality of patients’ life and causes a heavy economic burden on patient's family 2 . The regeneration of spinal cord axons is severely impaired due to the attenuated capacity of proliferation of neurons, the formation of necrosis cavum and glial scar, and the deprivation of neurotrophic factor after SCI 3 .…”