Cervical Spondylosis and Myelopathy

Question 1

What is cervical spondylosis?

Answer 1

Degenerative arthritic process involving cervical spien and affecting the intervertebral disc adn zygapophyseal joints (facet joints)

Question 2

What age range usually presents with cervical spondylosis?

Answer 2

Mainly over 50 years old

Question 3

What can cervical spondylosis patients present as?

Answer 3

Either degenerative cervical myelopathy (UMN signs)
OR
Radiculopathy (LMN signs)

Question 4

What is radiculopathy?

Answer 4

Term used to describe pinching of nerve roots as they exit spinal cord or cross intervertebral disc

RATHER THAN

Myelopathy which is compression of the cord itself

Question 5

Pathogenesis of cervical spondylosis?

Answer 5

With age changes to cervical discs can cause degenerative problems

Question 6

What changes happen to cervical discs with age?

Answer 6

Reduction of water content

Fragmentation of nucleus pulposus

Question 7

What can degeneration of cervical discs do?

Answer 7

Cause stress on articular cartilages of vertebral end plates

Question 8

What develops when there is stress on articular cartilages

Answer 8

Osteophytic spurs develop around margins of disintegrating end-plates
These spurs can grow posteriorly into spinal canal and anteriorly into prevertebral space

Question 9

Radiculopathy is?

Answer 9

Compression of the nerve leaving the spinal cord resulting in LMN signs ni upper and lower limbs aswell as neck pain that can spread into arms, chest, upper back and shoulders

Question 10

Myelopathy?

Answer 10

Compression of cord itself results in UMN signs such as hyperreflexia spasticity, pain, imbalance and gait disturbance
Positive Babinski and loss of finger dexterity

Question 11

Radiographic findings of myelopathy/cervical spondylosis?

Answer 11

Narrowing of disc space (C5/6) and C6/7)

Osteophyte formation