Cervical Spondylosis Flashcards
1
Q
What is cervical spondylosis?
A
- neck arthritis
- age-related condition that affects the joints and discs in your neck from wear and tear
2
Q
What causes cervical spondylosis?
A
Degenerative disc disease - Disc herniation Bone spurs Changes in ligamentum flavum Neural foramen narrowing/stenosis
3
Q
What are the s/s of cervical spondylosis?
A
- Limited mobility
- Chronic neck pain- worse with upright activity
- Paraspinous muscle spasm
- Headaches
- Radicular symptoms
- Interference with ADLs
4
Q
What is cervical myelopathy?
A
- Neurologic deficit to the spinal cord
- Gradual onset
5
Q
What are the s/s of cervical myelopathy?
A
Long-tract signs- Upper motor neuron lesion
- Palmar parathesia
- Decreased finger dexterity
- Subtle gait disturbances
- Abnormal urinary function
- Pain is often absent
6
Q
What is included in the physical exam of cervical spondylosis?
A
Tenderness - Soft tissue vs bony Decreased ROM with pain Assess sensory and motor function Gait analysis - Myelopathy
7
Q
What special tests are included in the physical exam of cervical spondylosis?
A
- Spurling’s test
- Babinski Sign
- Brudzinski-Kernig Test
- Ankle Clonus
8
Q
What are the diagnostic tests for cervical spondylosis?
A
Xrays
Degenerative changes
- End plate changes
- Osteophytes
MRI scan
CT myelogram
9
Q
What is included in DDX of cervical spondylosis?
A
Metastatic tumor Disc herniation Spinal cord tumor Syringomyelia Vertebral subluxation
10
Q
What is the treatment of cervical spondylosis?
A
Conservative vs surgical
- Decompression and fusion
