Diseases of the thoracolumbar joint

Author Dr. János Péter Görög | 2021.10.18.

In young people, the joint may not be strong enough and its ligaments may be loose, so it may dislocate with certain movements, causing discomfort. The consequence is that sport can be cancelled and being excused from physical education only makes the situation worse. In adults, a fall on the acromion, a badly healed clavicle fracture, strenuous physical work or sport can cause dislocation of the joint and, in the longer term, degenerative changes, similar to the well-known „hip joint wear and tear”. This can lead to ongoing complaints, pressure-sensitive swelling over the joint, restricted shoulder movement and reduced physical performance. It can result in visits to the doctor and sick leave.

Could this be a dangerous disease?

There is also a particularly dangerous form of this disease. The intact clavico-mandibular joint can become so infected due to bacterial inflammatory processes or foci in the body (e.g. lungs, throat, teeth) that it can put the patient's life at risk due to its critical location. It is known to be close to the neck, the thoracic organs and can easily mislead the diagnosing physician. Symptoms include extremely painful, inflammatory swelling around the joint, as well as fever and lethargy.

Of course, good specialists and modern testing procedures can determine the diagnosis. Unfortunately, curing it is not easy. The best option would be to replace the damaged joint with a prosthesis, but this is still a long way off. Conservative treatment, such as medication, is an option, but well-planned and executed surgery can be a solution for many joint conditions.

Dr. János Péter Görög, a chest specialist at the Budapest Musculoskeletal Private Clinic, with decades of professional experience, is waiting for all patients on Wednesday afternoons at his private clinic in Buda!