Cervical Spondylosis

Posted bythespinebookPosted inDegenerative, Topics

Background 

  • Natural degenerraiotn 
  • Starts age 40 
  • 85% of asymptomatic patientst >65 have spondylotic changes 
  • C56 
  • RF 
    • Excessive driving 
    • Lifting 
    • Athletes 
    • Smoking 

Pathophys 

  • Natural aging 
  • Degeneration 
    • Disc:  Dessication, height loss, bulding, herniation 
    • Joints: Uncinate spurring, facet arthrosis 
    • Ligamentum flavum: thicken, infold due to disc height loss 
    • Deformity: kyphosis – disc height loss, shift load to uncinates and facets-> worsens joints 

Associated: 

  • Radiculopathy 
  • Myelopathy 
  • Discogenic neck pain 

Imaging 

  • Sagitall alignemnt 
  • Canal diameters (<13 cod compession) 
  • MRI – high false positive 
  • CT myelogram