THORACIC DISCOGENIC SYNDROME

Course overview

SYMPTOMATIC THORACIC DISCOGENIC PAIN SYNDROME (TDPS) IS A RARE PHENOMENON MAKING IT CHALLENGING TO DIAGNOSE. THE RARITY OF TDPS IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE PARTICULAR ORIENTATION, STRUCTURE, AND FUNCTION OF THE THORACIC SPINE IN THE VERTEBRAL COLUMN. THE MAJORITY OF THORACIC DISC HERNIATIONS ARE ASYMPTOMATIC, OR THE PATIENT PRESENTS WITH NONSPECIFIC SYMPTOMS LIKE CHEST WALL PAIN, EPIGASTRIC PAIN, UPPER EXTREMITY PAIN, AND SOMETIMES, A PAIN IN THE GROIN OR THE LOWER EXTREMITY CAUSING THE CLINICIAN TO THINK OF A MORE COMMON PROBLEM THAN A THORACIC DISC HERNIATION. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, EVALUATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF THORACIC DISCOGENIC SYNDROME AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE CARE OF AFFECTED PATIENTS.