Disc Prolapse (cervical spine)

Question 1

what does acute and degenerative disc prolapse present with

Answer 1

neck pain and potentially nerve root compression

Question 2

what do patients with nerve root compression present with

Answer 2

shooting neuralgic pain down a dermatomal distribution with weakness and loss of reflexes depending on the nerve root affected

Question 3

is it typically the upper or lower nerve root affected

Answer 3

lower

Question 4

what can a large central prolapse do

Answer 4

compress the cord leading to myelopathy with upper motor neurone symptoms and signs

Question 5

what can aid diagnosis of affected level

Answer 5

clinical findings and MRI

Question 6

what is treatment for cases not responding to conservative management

Answer 6

surgery (discectomy)

Question 7

does the number of patients with asymptomatic disc prolapse increase or decrease with age

Answer 7

increase

Question 8

how are asymptomatic disc prolapses found

Answer 8

incidental findings on MRI

Question 9

what should clinical fining correlate with before contemplating surgery

Answer 9

MRI