Cervical Disc Disease Questions & Answers

Updated: Feb 14, 2022
  • Author: Michael B Furman, MD, MS; Chief Editor: Dean H Hommer, MD  more...
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Questions & Answers

Overview

What is cervical disc disease?

How is cervical disc disease diagnosed?

How is cervical disc disease treated?

What is the pathophysiology of cervical disc disease?

What is the prevalence of cervical disc disease in the US?

What is the global prevalence of cervical disc disease?

What is the morbidity of cervical disc disease?

What are the sexual predilections of cervical disc disease?

Which age groups have the highest prevalence of cervical disc disease?

Presentation

What is the focus of clinical history for cervical disc disease?

Which clinical history findings are characteristic of cervical disc disease?

What are most common maneuvers to test for cervical radiculopathy in cervical disc disease?

Which physical findings are characteristic of cervical disc disease?

What causes cervical disc disease?

DDX

What are the mechanical etiologies of cervical disc disease?

What are the infectious etiologies of cervical disc disease?

What are the metabolic etiologies of cervical disc disease?

What are the rheumatologic etiologies of cervical disc disease?

What are the differential diagnoses for Cervical Disc Disease?

Workup

What is the role of lab testing in the diagnosis of cervical disc disease?

What is the role of imaging studies in the diagnosis of cervical disc disease?

What is the role of radiography in the diagnosis of cervical disc disease?

What is the role of CT scanning in the diagnosis of cervical disc disease?

What is the role of CT myelography in the diagnosis of cervical disc disease?

What is the role of MRI in the diagnosis of cervical disc disease?

What is the role of discography in the diagnosis of cervical disc disease?

What is the role of electrodiagnostic studies in the evaluation of cervical disc disease?

Treatment

How is cervical disc disease treated?

What are the possible complications of cervical disc disease?

What is the role of surgery in the treatment of cervical disc disease?

Which specialist consultations are beneficial to patients with cervical disc disease?

Which physical modalities are used in the treatment of cervical disc disease?

What is the role of cervical traction in the treatment of cervical disc disease?

What is the role of a soft cervical collar in the treatment of cervical disc disease?

What is the role of spinal manipulation and mobilization in the treatment of cervical disc disease?

What is the role of cervical epidural, spinal nerve (or root), Z-joint, and sympathetic injections in the treatment of cervical disc disease?

What is the role of epidural injections in the treatment of cervical disc disease?

What are the possible adverse effects of cervical disc disease?

What complications are indicated in the central nervous system relative to cervical disc disease?

What is the role of biologic therapies for symptomatic intervertebral discs in the treatment of cervical disc disease?

Medications

Which medications are indicated in the treatment of cervical disc disease?

Which medications in the drug class Analgesics are used in the treatment of Cervical Disc Disease?

Which medications in the drug class Anticonvulsants are used in the treatment of Cervical Disc Disease?

Which medications in the drug class Corticosteroids are used in the treatment of Cervical Disc Disease?

Follow-up

What is included in long-term monitoring of cervical disc disease?

How is cervical disc disease prevented?

What are the potential complications of epidural injections for the treatment of cervical disc disease?

What is included in patient education about cervical disc disease?