[Intervertebral disc calcification in childhood (author's transl)].

Intervertebral disc calcification in childhood is benign and uncommon. The prognosis is good. Clinically, it is marked by torticollis with neck pain and stiffness. Sometimes, appearances suggestive of sepsis may lead to false diagnosis. The diagnosis is made on good radiological examination which shows opacity of the disc and no other abnormality, though with a tendency to forward protrusion. Healing takes place spontaneously after several days and the calcification disappears after about a year, after a stage of fragmentation. Complications are rare. Treatment should be conservative and symptomatic (braces, analgesics).