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CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS

CERVICAL SPINE ANATOMY

CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS

Chronic degenerative lesions of single or multiple intervertebral discs and consequent osteophytosis of related vertebral bodies.

CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS-NATURAL PROCESS OF AGING

-COMMONEST CAUSE OF:-NECK PAIN-RADICULOPATHY-MYELOPATHY

CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS

FREQUENCY: - > 40 YEARS- RARE > 30 YEARS

CERVICAL SPONDYLOSISETIOLOGY :- AGING PROCESS- MECHANICAL LOAD APPLIES TO THE

SPINE- MECHANICAL INSTABILITY- ABNORMAL MOVEMENTS

PATHOGENESIS

OF DEGENERATION :

- CHANGE IN OSMOTIC PROPERTIES

- DECREASE OF WATER CONTENT

- SCLEROSIS IN DISC INTERSPACE

- FORMATION OF OSTEOPHYTES

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS :- Neck Pain : dull pain, tend to come and go.- Neck Stiffness : particularly after a night’s

rest.- Headaches- “Pins and needles” in part of an arm or hand.

numbness or weakness in a part of a hand or arm (Cervical Radiculopathy).

- Clumsiness of a hand, problems with walking or bladder function (Cervical Myelopathy).

CERVICAL RADICULOPATHY & MYELOPATHY

CERVICAL RADICULOPATHY

This occurs when the root of a nerve is pressed on or damaged as it comes out from the spinal cord in the neck (cervical) region. Although there are other causes of radiculopathy, cervical spondylosis is a common cause. Degenerative changes to the joints around the vertebrae and osteophyte formation produce areas of narrowing which may nip the nerve. Another cause is a prolapsed disc. This is sometimes called a 'slipped disc' although the disc does not actually slip. What happens is that part of the inner softer area of the disc bulges out (prolapses) through a weakness in the outer harder part of the disc. This presses on the nerve as it passes out between the vertebra.