Cervical Spondylosis

'Spondylosis' is a term referring to degenerative osteoarthritis of the joints between the center of the vertebrae and/or neural foramen. If this condition occurs in the zygapophysial joint, it can be considered facet syndrome. If severe, it may cause pressure on nerve with subsequent sensory system and/or motor system 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 ischemia. If vertebrae of the neck are involved it is labelled cervical vertebrae spondylosis.