Türk Nöroşirürji Dergisi 2018 , Vol 28 , Num 2
Natural Course of Cervical Spinal Stenosis and Follow-up Tools
Murat KORKMAZ1,Cumhur KILINÇER2
1Çiğli Bölge Eğitim Hastanesi, Nöroşirürji Kliniği, İzmir, Türkiye
2Trakya Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Nöroşirürji Anabilim Dalı, Edirne, Türkiye
Health problems due to degenerative spine disorders become important in elderly individuals. Although the incidence of cervical degenerative spine disorders is less than in the lumbar region, the possibility of a deficit and disability is higher. Ageing is the most important factor but working conditions and environmental and genetic factors can also be the reason of proteoglycan content depletion of the disc tissue, resulting in height loss and dehydration of the disc and initiation of degeneration. The disturbance in load spreading causes increased stress on the uncovertebral and facet joints, osteophyte development, and internal torsion of ligamentum flavum. Progression of these changes leads to narrowing of the cervical spinal canal and compression of the spinal cord. If the diameter of the canal becomes smaller than the spinal cord, myelopathy may occur. In this paper, we pointed out the natural course of cervical spinal stenosis, the clinical conditions that can be seen, and the importance of follow-up tools in deciding on the treatment methods. Anahtar Kelimeler : Cervical spinal stenosis, Follow-up tool, Natural course