Cervical Spondylosis

Question 1

What is cervical spondylosis

Answer 1

1. Arthritis of the cervical spine
   *discs/bony structures
2. Neural foramina narrowing and cervical spinal stenosis are common

Question 2

What are the symptoms?

Answer 2

1. Decreased ROM
2. Chronic pain
3. Paraspinous msucle spasm
4. Irritability, fatigue, sleep disturbances
5. Radicular symptoms

Question 3

What will be on the PE?

Answer 3

1. Tenderness (c-spine, and para spinal)
2. Decreased ROM
3. Sensory and motor function C5-T1, L1-S1 (Assess them)
4. Bowel/bladder function (assess them)
5. Hoffmanns reflex

Question 4

What is hoffmanns reflex

Answer 4

1. Rapidly flexion or flick the DIP of middle finger
2. Thumb will flex and adduct

*if there is an abnormal reflex the patient may have damaged pyramidal tracts in the brain

Question 5

What are the tests to ordeR?

Answer 5

X rays
*osteophytes, subluxation
MRI/CT
*compression of spinal cord or neural foramina narrowing with compression of nerves

Question 6

What is the treatment?

Answer 6

1. Supportive
2. NSAIDS
3. PT
4. Doxepin, Amitriptyline
5. Surgical decompression if intractable/intolerable