Türk Nöroşirürji Dergisi 2022 , Vol 32 , Num 3
Natural Course of Cervical Spinal Degenerative Diseases
Ali Erhan KAYALAR1,Sait NADERI2
1Haydarpaşa Numune Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Nöroşirürji Kliniği, İstanbul, Türkiye
2İstanbul Beyin ve Omurga Merkezi, İstanbul, Türkiye
Cervical degenerative diseases occur when the structures that make up the spine lose their natural structure over time. Disc diseases, ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament, and spondylotic myelopathy are generally known as degenerative diseases. They occur once or twice in an average lifespan. The most common symptoms are pain and numbness. In cervical disc herniation, the main symptom is usually radiculopathy. The cause of radiculopathy is the mechanical and inflammatory involvement of the nerve root. Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is a progressive degenerative disease that continues with degeneration in the bones and soft tissues of the spine. It is the most common cause of myelopathy in middle-aged individuals. The risk of developing myelopathy in asymptomatic patients with significant stenosis is approximately 3% per year. Radiological myelopathy may not be present in 20% of patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Hypertrophy of the posterior longitudinal ligament and development of ossification in the ligament may cause cervical myelopathy and/or radiculopathy by narrowing the spinal canal. In this article, we gathered information about the natural history of degenerative cervical diseases, which we frequently encounter in neurosurgery practice. An attempt was made to provide information to the readers about the diagnosis of the disease and its progression in its natural state. Anahtar Kelimeler : Degenerative disc disease, Cervical myelopathy, Natural history, Spondylosis