All diseases and pathologies occurring in humans are recorded in the International Classification of Diseases - ICD-10. This is the most modern, 10th revision conducted by the World He alth Organization and recommended for use in Russia in 1999. It has a special section that includes diseases of the musculoskeletal system. And pathologies of the spine, characterized by neurological symptoms and lesions of bone and soft tissues, are highlighted in the subsection "Dorsopathies". Such diseases are numbered from 40 to 54 according to the ICD. Osteochondrosis occupies a separate position here - M42. Similar degenerative processes also occur in spondylopathies (M45-M49), dorsalgia (M54), osteopathies (M86-M90) and chondropathy (M91-M94).
Why do we need an international classification of diseases
This system was developed by medicalemployees for the convenience of processing information about the patient's illness and to protect this information. After all, the cipher that replaces the diagnosis in the card is familiar only to doctors. The coding of diseases includes a letter and a numeric designation. And all diseases are divided into groups according to their nature. But not every disease has a separate ICD code. Osteochondrosis, for example, belongs to the group of dorsopathy and is classified by code M42. But various degenerative-dystrophic processes of the spinal column can be designated by other letter codes. Therefore, an accurate diagnosis is necessary to prescribe the right treatment.
Correct diagnosis
Accurate diagnosis of osteochondrosis is carried out by a doctor on the basis of a special examination. It is essential for a correct diagnosis. After all, the effectiveness of treatment depends on it. Before confirming the diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the spine according to the ICD, it is necessary to exclude the possibility of other diseases: pathologies of the kidneys or intestines, traumatic lesions, degenerative processes in the bones. Therefore, in the history of the disease, not only the patient's complaints, the onset of the development of the disease, and the results of the examination are recorded. The nature of the course of the disease, its phase, pain characteristics, spinal mobility, and the presence of neurological disorders are also taken into account. To determine the nature of the pathology, an x-ray examination, computer and magnetic resonance imaging are performed. Only after this the patient's illness is assigned a specific ICD code.
Osteochondrosis: causes
This disease 10 years ago occurred mainly after 45 years. But now even young people and teenagers are diagnosed with such a diagnosis. This is due to a sedentary lifestyle and passion for gadgets. Because of this, the muscular corset of the spine weakens, and the posture is bent. As a result of the increased load, the disks begin to collapse. The reasons why osteochondrosis develops are not taken into account by ICD-10, but doctors need to determine them in order to select the desired treatment method. Why can osteochondrosis develop:
- due to a sedentary lifestyle;
- great exercise, heavy lifting;
- spinal injury;
- age-related changes in bone tissue;
- hereditary predisposition.
Who is affected
According to the ICD, osteochondrosis is considered in the group of dorsopathy, that is, degenerative processes in the spine. Therefore, it mainly affects the elderly. In them, due to a slowdown in metabolic processes and blood circulation, tissues lose fluid and nutrients and begin to collapse. But this disease also occurs at a younger age. At risk are athletes, loaders and everyone who experiences increased physical exertion. Drives also suffer from a sedentary lifestyle led by office workers, drivers, seamstresses and representatives of some other professions.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
Disc failure causes back pain and limited movement. These are the main symptoms of osteochondrosis. Pain canbe strong or aching, may appear intermittently after exercise or last for a long time. But degenerative processes affect not only discs. Reducing the space between the vertebrae leads to pinching of the nerve roots. This causes neurological symptoms depending on the location of the disease.
With osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the following signs are observed:
- sharp pain radiating down the leg;
- disruption of the pelvic organs;
- numbness of limbs, goosebumps or tingling;
- leg cramps, weakness;
- in severe cases, loss of sensation in the lower body, paralysis develops.
If the cervical region is affected, the situation is even more serious, since the vessels that feed the brain and the nerves that connect it with the body pass through this place. This may cause pain in the head, impaired coordination of movements, loss of memory, vision and hearing, frequent dizziness and fainting.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis are also associated with circulatory disorders. This is a loss of pulse, interruptions in the work of internal organs, pressure fluctuations. When such signs appear, it is necessary to undergo an examination in order to correctly diagnose according to ICD-10.
Osteochondrosis of the spine: stages of development
The danger of this disease is that at the initial stage a person may not pay attention to slight pains and restriction of movement. It is then that the disease is most easily cured. But most often, patients go to the doctor when the changes are alreadybecome irreversible. According to the ICD, osteochondrosis refers to degenerative diseases. It goes through three stages:
- first, the core of the disc begins to lose water and cracks appear on the fibrous ring, gradually the distance between the vertebrae decreases;
- at the second stage, back pain appears, a crunch can be heard when moving due to the convergence of the vertebrae;
- the third stage is characterized by severe pain not only in the spine, but also in the limbs and other organs, there may be displacement of the vertebrae and infringement of the nerve roots;
- at the last stage, serious complications develop, loss of mobility of the spine.
Types of diseases
According to ICD-10, spinal osteochondrosis is classified according to developmental features:
- youthful - М42.0;
- osteochondrosis of adults - M42.1;
- osteochondrosis of the spine, unspecified - M42.9.
But most often another classification of the disease is known - according to its localization. In serious cases, with a running degenerative process, widespread osteochondrosis is diagnosed, in which many discs and surrounding tissues are affected. But most often the disease occurs in one part of the spine.
- Cervical osteochondrosis ICD allocates to a separate group M42.2. But this is the most common form of the disease. It is the cervical region that is most often affected due to its mobility and vulnerability.
- Thoracic osteochondrosis is rare. Calls in this location are additionally supportedribs. Therefore, more often you can meet the diagnosis of "cervicothoracic osteochondrosis" - ICD42.3.
- Disk failure in the lumbar region is fairly common. In this place, the vertebrae and discs withstand the greatest load, especially during a sedentary lifestyle or lifting weights. Separately, lumbosacral osteochondrosis is also isolated, although there are no discs in the sacrum and the vertebrae themselves and the surrounding soft tissues are destroyed.
Complications of osteochondrosis
According to the ICD, osteochondrosis of the spine is allocated to a special section, but many doctors do not consider it a separate disease. After all, if degenerative processes have begun in the discs, they will necessarily affect the surrounding tissues: vertebrae, muscles and ligaments. Therefore, herniated discs, spondylolisthesis, protrusions, arthrosis of the joints of the vertebrae and other diseases quickly join osteochondrosis.
