Cervical Spondylosis

Cervical spondylosis is a deterioration of the spinal discs in the neck occurring as a result of normal wear and tear of the spine as one gets older. Cervical spondylosis is often referred to as “arthritis” of the spine.

Causes:

– Degenerative disc disease

– Bone spurs (overgrowth of bone)

– Cervical disc herniation

– Patients that have jobs that require repetitive neck movements and prolonged overhead work may be predisposed to developing cervical spondylosis in the future

Symptoms:

Typically, patients with cervical spondylosis only complain of pain in their neck. If they also have an associated nerve that is compressed in the neck, they may also experience arm pain, numbness and tingling.

Diagnosis:

In order to confirm the diagnosis of cervical spondylosis a combination of imaging studies may used including x-ray, MRI, and CT.

Treatment:

There are various treatment options for cervical spondylosis depending on the etiology. Conservative treatment options may include physical therapy, interventional pain management, chiropractic care, and/or medications. If surgical intervention is required, an approach from the front of the spine is generally used. This procedure is called an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Occasionally, it is also necessary to perform fixation from the back as well with a posterior cervical fusion.