Degenerative cervical disc disease comprises a spectrum of disorders ranging from internal disc disruption to focal soft disc hemiations to spondylosis with its osteophyte formation. The process may be isolated to a single level in the cervical spine ...
Degenerative cervical disc disease comprises a spectrum of disorders ranging from internal disc disruption to focal soft disc hemiations to spondylosis with its osteophyte formation. The process may be isolated to a single level in the cervical spine or involve multiple levels, most commonly in the subaxial cervical spine. Cervical spondylosis is a manifestation of cervical disc degenetation and cervical radiculopathy occurs as a result of compression or distortion of a cervical nerve root. Cervical radiculopathy includes the constellation of pain and/or nerve deficit in the distribution of a specific cervical nerve root. This condition may be related to a variety of possible compressive pathologies.
This article reviews the natural history of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy and relates it to the development of clinical manifestations, including the evaluation as well as the nonoperative and operative management of such problems.