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Spondylosis
Classification and external resources
ICD-10	M47.
ICD-9	721
OMIM	184300
DiseasesDB	12323
MedlinePlus	000436
eMedicine	neuro/564
MeSH	D013128

Spondylosis is a term referring to degenerative arthrosis of the joints between the centra of the spinal vertebrae and/or neural foraminae. In this condition the interfacetal joints are not involved. If severe, it may cause pressure on nerve roots with subsequent sensory and/or motor disturbances, such as pain, paresthesia, or muscle weakness in the limbs.

When the space between two adjacent vertebrae narrows, compression of a nerve root emerging from the spinal cord may result in radiculopathy (sensory and motor disturbances, such as severe pain in the neck, shoulder, arm, back, and/or leg, accompanied by muscle weakness). Less commonly, direct pressure on the spinal cord (typically in the cervical spine) may result in myelopathy, characterized by global weakness, gait dysfunction, loss of balance, and loss of bowel and/or bladder control. The patient may experience a phenomenon of shocks (paresthesia) in hands and legs because of nerve compression and lack of blood flow. If vertebrae of the neck are involved it is labelled cervical spondylosis. Lower back spondylosis is labeled lumbar spondylosis.

Contents 1 Treatment 2 Surgery 3 See also 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Treatment

"Treatment is usually conservative in nature; the most commonly used treatments are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), physical modalities, and lifestyle modifications. Alternative therapies such as osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM), massage, trigger-point therapy, chiropractic and acupuncture may be utilized to control pain and maintain musculoskeletal function in some people. Surgery is occasionally performed. Many of the treatment modalities for cervical spondylosis have not been subjected to rigorous, controlled trials. Surgery is advocated for cervical radiculopathy in patients who have intractable pain, progressive symptoms, or weakness that fails to improve with conservative therapy. Surgical indications for cervical spondylosis with myelopathy (CSM) remain somewhat controversial, but "most clinicians recommend operative therapy over conservative therapy for moderate-to-severe myelopathy." (Baron, M.E.) Physical therapy may be effective for restoring range of motion, flexibility, and core strengthening. Decompressive therapies (i.e. manual mobilization, mechanical traction) may also help alleviate pain. However, physical therapy cannot "cure" the degeneration, and some people view that strong compliance with postural modification is necessary to realize maximum benefit from decompression and flexibility rehabilitation. Understanding anatomy is the key to conservative management of spondylosis.

[edit] Surgery

Many different surgical procedures have been developed to alleviate the signs and symptoms associated with spondylosis. The vertebral column can be approached by the surgeon from the front, side, or rear. Osteophytes and sometimes portions of a intervertebral disc are commonly removed in an effort to relieve pressure on adjacent nerve roots and/or the spinal cord.

[edit] See also

• Spinal disc herniation
• Laminectomy

[edit] References

• Thomas, Clayton L. (1985). Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary. F.A. Davis Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ISBN 0-8036-8309-X.
• Baron, M.E. (2007) Cervical Spondylosis: Diagnosis and Management. http://www.emedicine.com/neuro/topic564.htm

[edit] External links

• Cervical spondylosis at the Mayo Clinic
• Cervical spondylosis and its cure

v • d • e Dorsopathies / spinal disease (M40-M54, 720-724,737) Deforming dorsopathies Spinal curvature Kyphosis · Lordosis · Scoliosis Other Scheuermann's disease · Torticollis Spondylopathy inflammatory: Ankylosing spondylitis · Sacroiliitis · Discitis · Pott disease noninflammatory: Spondylosis (Spondylolysis, Spondylolisthesis)  · Spinal stenosis Back pain Neck pain · Upper back pain · Low back pain (Coccydynia, Sciatica) Radiculopathy Intervertebral disc disorder Schmorl's nodes · Degenerative disc disease · Spinal disc herniation joint navs: anat, non-congenital arthropathies/deformities/dorsopathies/soft tissue arthropathy/congenital, eponymous signs, proc