Pedicle

The pedicle is a short, stem-like projection located on the backside of a vertebral body. A pedicle lies on either side of the vertebral body and connects to the facet joint, bridging the front and back sections of the vertebra. The rounded hollows above and below the pedicle are known as vertebral notches. When the vertebrae are joined together, these notches form the passageways called intervertebral foramina. The foramina are the canals through which nerve roots extend outward from the spinal cord and to the rest of the body.

Conditions Relating to the Pedicle

A foramen (passageway) is formed by two pedicle projections and is meant to protect a nerve root. However, the degeneration of an intervertebral disc can cause disc material to compress, or impinge, a nerve traveling through a foramen. Neuralgia, or nerve pain, may result. Symptoms might include pain at the site of impingement, as well as pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling in the extremities.

Neuralgia also may develop with the appearance of a neoplasm near a pedicle. Neoplasms, also known as tumors, are masses of tissue growth due to excessive cell production. If a neoplasm originates in or moves (metastasizes) to the pedicle, severe pain may occur. Osteoid osteoma is a type of benign, non-cancerous tumor that manifests primarily in the pedicle and other posterior elements of a vertebra. Treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, or NSAIDs, can be helpful in alleviating pain caused by neoplasms.

A fractured pedicle may cause the formerly attached vertebral body to shift forward atop the bone below, resulting in a condition called spondylothesis. The impingement of the spinal cord or nerve roots may also occur. Consequently, the pedicle is often the site of internal fixations, when plates or screws are implanted to aid in the proper healing of fractured bones, as well as treating spinal deformity or damages incurred from traumatic injuries. Internal fixations are most often used in lumbar, or lower back, surgeries.

Laser Spine Institute

The pedicle is a small piece of the vertebrae, yet is an integral part of the spine. Conditions affecting the pedicle may alter your quality of life. Laser Spine Institute’s orthopedic specialists have treated many back and neck conditions with minimally invasive procedures using state-of-the-art endoscopic techniques. If you are experiencing pain or other symptoms due to a spinal condition, contact us today and we’ll review your MRI or CT scan, at no cost to you.