Cervical Spondylosis

Excerpt

Cervical spondylosis is a term that encompasses a wide range of progressive degenerative changes that affect all the components of the cervical spine (i.e., intervertebral discs, facet joints, joints of Luschka, ligamenta flava, and laminae). It is a natural process of aging and presents in the majority of people after the fifth decade of life. Symptoms of cervical spondylosis manifest as neck pain and neck stiffness and can be accompanied by radicular symptoms when there is compression of neural structures. Neck pain is a widespread condition and the second most common complaint after low back pain. Given its significant burden of disease associated with substantial disability and economic cost, healthcare providers need to recognize symptomatic cervical spondylosis and provide evidence-based, cost-effective interventions.