Open AccessT4 SYNDROME: THE PAIN IN NECK THAT IS OFTEN MISDIAGNOSED
Author(s) -
Sadaf Shafqat
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
pakistan journal of rehabilitation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2311-3863
pISSN - 2309-7833
DOI - 10.36283/pjr.zu.2.2/009
Subject(s) - medicine , facet (psychology) , cervical vertebrae , thoracic vertebrae , forearm , neck pain , cervical spine , anatomy , vertebral column , back pain , vertebra , thoracic spine , upper limb , cervical rib , spinal column , surgery , rib cage , lumbar vertebrae , psychology , lumbar , social psychology , alternative medicine , personality , pathology , big five personality traits
It has been ascertained that musculoskeletal issues arising from the upper thoracic spine are often incorrectly diagnosedas cervical in nature, by both the therapists and the medical professionals equally. This may be due to the reason that thelower cervical and upper thoracic vertebrae are closely linked with regards to cervical movements, predominantly, flexion,and extension. Symptoms from the upper thoracic spine can also bring up pain in the arm and forearm, thus, mimic a heartattack1.One such condition of upper thoracic spine is of T4 vertebra - the T4 syndrome. In 1994, Evans P, discussed the basic sciencebehind the genesis of T4 syndrome and argued that, the term upper thoracic disorder might be a more accurate term, in viewof the fact that, the condition generally ranges between T1 to T72. However, it is generally referred to as T4 or T3 syndrome3. Ifwe examine the vertebral column, the compressive load at T1 is about 9% of body weight, increasing to 33% at T8 and 47% atT124. In between each one of these vertebrae, lie the facet joints and discs, which help in maintaining the weight and directingthe movement among the individual vertebrae. When either of these joints gets injured, damage in turn can be imposed onthe nerves