Clay Shoveler's Fracture

Clay Shoveler's Fracture
Clay Shoveler's fracture is an uncommon but stable fracture customarily seen at the level of C7 succeeded by C6 and T1. This fracture usually happens in people who work lifting some type of weights quickly with arms lengthened causing the muscles to forcefully tighten. The force from the muscle pulling on the spinous process results in the base of its neck to break.

With Clay Shoveler's fracture, a person will feel a "knife-like" burning pain between the shoulder blades. Usually the fracture is so painful that the person can not continue with the activity they were performing.

A radiography is used to diagnose a Clay Shoveler's fracture. However if there is nerve loss, an MRI should be performed.

The majority of patients do not need medical care. Massage, physical therapy, pain medication or a cervical collar can be used to aid in the patients treatment.

Carotid Body Tumor

Carotid Body Tumor

Carotid body tumors develop in the upper region of the neck where the carotid artery bifurcate. These tumors can also be called chemodectoma or paraganglioma.

Carotid body tumors often show up as a slow-growing asymptomatic touchable mass on the anterior aspect of the neck. Symptoms will appear, such as pain, tongue paresis, Horner Syndrome, hoarseness, and dysphagia as the tumor grows and constricts the carotid artery and the encompassing nerves.

Usually removal of a carotid body tumor is proposed and occasionally radiation therapy is used in conjunction with surgery. Embolization is done to lower or cease the blood supply to the tumor and then a resection is performed on the carotid artery.

Treatment for carotid body tumors is typically very safe, and the end result is extremely good. However, there is always risk with any surgical procedure.

A very rare complication of the resection of carotid tumors is stroke. Carotid body tumors with nerves connected will need accompanying resection of the vagus nerve which might result in the dysfunction of the nerve. Facial nerves and hypoglossal nerves can also be involved depending on the size of the tumor. Less than 5 percent of patients progress to metastasis.

Ranula

Ranula
A ranula is a mucus filled cyst from an obstruction in the salivary gland. Ranula can be found in the mouth known as oral ranula or in the neck known as cervical ranula. The oral ranula usually can be found under the tongue which produces a sublingual ranula.

Ranula vary in size and in color hinging on how deep-rooted the cyst is. Depending on the size of the cyst, it can may make it unbearable to eat or talk. Periodically, the cyst will subside on its own but if that is not the case then a marsupialization may have to be performed by an oral surgeon. A marsupialization is when the oral surgeon creates a pocket by opening the cyst to enable the cyst to fill with liquid again. If this doesn't repair the cyst then the it will have to be removed along with the gland that is blocked to keep it from coming back.