Overview
What is the pathophysiology of cervical spondylosis?
What is the prevalence of cervical spondylosis in the US?
What is the global prevalence of cervical spondylosis?
What is the mortality/morbidity associated with cervical spondylosis?
What is the racial predilection of cervical spondylosis?
How does the incidence of cervical spondylosis vary by sex?
How does the incidence of cervical spondylosis vary by age?
Presentation
What is the presentation of pain in cervical spondylosis?
What is the presentation of cervical radiculopathy in cervical spondylosis?
What is the presentation of cervical myelopathy in cervical spondylosis?
How is cervical spondylotic myelopathy categorized?
What are the less common manifestations of cervical spondylosis?
Which physical findings are characteristic of cervical spondylosis?
What causes cervical spondylosis?
DDX
Which conditions should be included in the differential diagnoses of cervical spondylosis?
What are the differential diagnoses for Cervical Spondylosis?
Workup
What is the role of lab studies in the diagnosis of cervical spondylosis?
What is the role of imaging studies in the diagnosis of cervical spondylosis?
What is the role of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in the diagnosis of cervical spondylosis?
What is the role of electrodiagnostic tests in the diagnosis of cervical spondylosis?
What is the role of cervical diskography in the diagnosis of cervical spondylosis?
When are urodynamic studies indicated in the workup of cervical spondylosis?
Which histologic findings suggest cervical spondylosis?
Treatment
What is the role of physical therapy in the treatment of cervical spondylosis?
What is the role of occupational therapy in the treatment of cervical spondylosis?
What is the role of recreational therapy in the treatment of cervical spondylosis?
What are complications of cervical spondylosis?
What is the role of surgery in the treatment of cervical spondylosis?
What are the anterior surgical approaches in the treatment of cervical spondylosis?
What are the posterior surgical approaches in the treatment of cervical spondylosis?
What is the efficacy of surgical intervention in the treatment of cervical spondylosis?
Which specialist consultations are beneficial in the treatment of cervical spondylosis?
What is the role of injections in the treatment of cervical spondylosis?
How are bowel and bladder dysfunction managed in cervical spondylosis?
What is the role of rehabilitative nursing in the treatment of cervical spondylosis?
What is the role of psychosocial support in the treatment of cervical spondylosis?
Medications
What is the goal of drug treatment for cervical spondylosis?
Follow-up
What is included in outpatient care for patients with cervical spondylosis?
When is inpatient care indicated for the treatment of cervical spondylosis?
Which medications are used in the treatment of cervical spondylosis?
When is patient transfer indicated in the treatment of cervical spondylosis?
How is cervical spondylosis or its complications prevented?
What are complications of cervical spondylosis?
What is the prognosis of cervical spondylosis?
Where can resources for patient education about cervical spondylosis be found?
-
A cervical myelogram shows advanced spondylotic changes and multiple compression of the spinal cord by osteophytes.
-
A 59-year-old woman presented with a spastic gait and weakness in her upper extremities. A T2-weighted sagittal magnetic resonance imaging scan shows cord compression from cervical spondylosis, which caused central spondylotic myelopathy. Note the signal changes in the cord at C4-C5, the ventral osteophytosis, buckling of the ligamentum flavum at C3-C4, and the prominent loss of disk height between C2 and C5.
-
A T2-weighted cervical magnetic resonance imaging scan shows obliteration of the subarachnoid space as a result of spondylotic changes.
-
A 48-year-old man presented with neck pain and predominantly left-sided radicular symptoms in the arm. The patient's symptoms resolved with conservative therapy. An axial, gradient-echo magnetic resonance imaging scan shows moderate anteroposterior narrowing of the cord space due to a ventral osteophyte at the C4 level, with bilateral narrowing of the neural foramina (more prominently on the left side).
-
A 48-year-old man presented with neck pain and predominantly left-sided radicular symptoms in the arm. The patient's symptoms resolved with conservative therapy. A T2-weighted sagittal magnetic resonance imaging scan shows ventral osteophytosis, most prominent between C4 and C7, with reduction of the ventral cerebrospinal fluid sleeve.