Spondylosis
Spine
- Cervical spondylosis is the most common progressive disease in the ageing cervical spine. Seen in 95% of the people by 65 years. It can present with neck or hand pain, weakness in the hand or fingers. Severe compression on the spinal cord due to a disc prolapse can give rise to myelopathic features which can cause leg weakness and imbalance while walking.
- Evaluation of a patient involves a thorough clinical examination, MR imaging of the cervical (neck) spine.
- Management approaches to cervical disc problems involves pain medications, isometric neck exercises, physiotherapy as part of conservative management
- Surgery is advised in case of progressive symptoms which do not remit with conservative treatment, hand weakness, severe spinal cord compression.
- The type of surgery is decided based on the clinical findings in the patient which are correlated with MR imaging findings.
