A 10-year-old boy was well until ten days prior to admission, when he had intermittent back and neck pain. The pain became more severe and eventually prevented him from getting out of bed. There was no history of trauma. On admission to the hospital, he was in moderate distress, with a straight back and torticollis. Neurological findings were normal and there were no signs of infection. Cervical spine roentgenograms (Fig 1) were obtained.
Denouement and Discussion
Cervical Disk Calcification in Childhood
Calcification of the intervertebral disks in childhood is an uncommon but well-described entity occurring preponderantly in boys between 2½ and 11 years of age, the average being 8 years.1 The cause is unknown although it has occurred in association with congenital cardiac lesions, infection, ruptured intervertebral disks, bilateral cataracts, chalasia, and trauma.2 The disease is self-limiting. The C-6 disk is the one most commonly affected.1The duration of calcification prior to the onset of symptoms is seldom