Türk Nöroşirürji Dergisi 2022 , Vol 32 , Num 3
Physiopathology of Cervical Spinal Degeneration
Numan KARAARSLAN1,İbrahim YILMAZ2,Tezcan ÇALIŞKAN3,Hakan SOMAY4
1Haliç Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Beyin ve Sinir Cerrahisi Anabilim Dalı, İstanbul, Türkiye
2İstanbul Rumeli Üniversitesi, Sağlık Hizmetleri Meslek Yüksek Okulu, Tıbbi Hizmetler ve Teknikler Bölümü, İstanbul, Türkiye
3Tekirdağ Namık Kemal Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Beyin ve Sinir Cerrahisi Anabilim Dalı, Tekirdağ, Türkiye
4İstanbul Kadıköy Medicana Hastanesi, Beyin ve Sinir Cerrahisi Kliniği, İstanbul, Türkiye
Cervical spine degenerations are pathological processes that occur as a natural consequence of aging. Intervertebral disc tissue, uncinate joints, facet joints and ligament structures are the structures most affected by this degenerative process. Advanced age, environmental factors, genetic characteristics, staying in the same posture for a long time and some professions may aggravate degeneration. Cervical degenerative processes include degenerative cervical disc herniation, cervical spondylosis, and osteophyte on uncinate joint. These degenerative pathologies cause a decrease in both the cervical spinal canal and intervertebral foramen diameter, and thus neck pain due to neurovascular compression, limitation of movement, and radiculopathy and myelopathy may be observed. The pathophysiology, histopathology and anatomy of the cervical spinal region, and especially the pharmacomolecular signal pathways of cervical spinal degenerative processes should be known to make a timely diagnosis and opt for an appropriate management method. Another issue that is at least as important as these is that it should be kept in mind that the planning and management of the treatment of this patient group should be multidisciplinary, and especially by pharmacologists. Anahtar Kelimeler : Degenerative disc herniation, Pharmacomolecular signaling pathways, Physiopathology, Cervical spinal degeneration, Cervical spondylosis