THORACIC SPINE: ANATOMICAL VARIATIONS - LITERATURE REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56238/levv17n59-037Keywords:
Spine, Thoracic Spine, Structural DeformitiesAbstract
This study analyzes deformities of the Thoracic Spine, which encompass a complex spectrum of structural anomalies, from congenital malformations, such as Hemivertebra, with an incidence of 1 to 10 cases per thousand live births, to conditions acquired in adulthood, potentially compromising respiratory and cardiac functions and resulting in Thoracic Insufficiency Syndrome. The investigation presents a literature review conducted on the Consensus platform in March 2026, integrating Semantic Scholar and PubMed/MEDLINE. The methodology included 20 search strategies across 5 thematic blocks, resulting in the initial screening of 1,038 records and the final selection of 20 articles, based on rigorous inclusion criteria and source quality. Results indicate that Intraspinal Anomalies occur in up to 47% of patients with Congenital Scoliosis, numerical vertebral variations are present in 20.2% of adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis patients and are systematically underdiagnosed, and early fusion of more than 60% of the Thoracic Spine before the age of eight years may reduce forced vital capacity by 50% of the predicted value. It is concluded that a deeper understanding of the genetic basis and morphological variations of the Thoracic Spine is essential for mitigating iatrogenic errors and optimizing therapeutic outcomes in patients with Axial Skeletal impairment.
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References
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