Digitized Honors Theses (2002-2017)

Date of Award

5-2003

Document Type

Undergraduate Thesis

Degree Name

BS

Department

Biomedical Sciences

Faculty Mentor

J. Allan Tucker

Advisor(s)

Cindy Stanfield Ph.D. , Zari Aliabadi Ph.D.

Abstract

Crystals have been identified with an incidence between 4 and 24.56% in intervertebral tissue removed from herniated discs. The origin of these crystals has not been proven, but the crystals are thought to originate from degenerative changes within the disc and are not present in the lacW1ar space of chondrocytes. In previous studies, the crystals were identified using polarized light and microradiography as calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate. The presence of the crystals, if composed of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate, may be related to calciwn pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease (CPPD). One hundred and sixteen (116) cases of discectomy were reviewed using polarized light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electron probe microanalysis, a technique not utilized in previous studies for the identification of the crystals. Patient charts were reviewed to determine the significance, if any, of the crystals. The crystals were identified as calciwn pyrophosphate dihydrate with an incidence of 9.48%. Statistical analysis of the relation of the crystals to the presence of trauma and arthritis showed no significance. However, prior spinal surgery was significantly correlated with the presence of crystals. No conclusive evidence proved a connection with CPPD. Elevated levels of calciwn and phosphate were found in the lacunae of some chondrocytes, but not in a consistent manner. The positive correlation between previous spinal surgery and the presence of the crystals indicated a likelihood that patients with prior spinal surgery were at greater risk of developing the crystals that those that have no history of spinal surgery.

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