cervical spondylosis

Question 1

spondylosis defintion

Answer 1

broad term that refers to degeneration of the spine from any cause but is mostly referring to degeneration from spinal osteoarthritis

Question 2

presentation

Answer 2

• slow onset of stiffness in neck which may radiate to shoulders
• mechanical pain in neck
• in some cases osteophytes can impinge on exiting nerve roots resulting in a radiculoparhy involving upper limb dermatomes and myotomes

Question 3

management

Answer 3

• physiotherapy and NSAIDS the mainstay treatment

- if osteophytes impinging and causing a radiculopathy may need surgical decompression