Cervical spinal stenosis
| Cervical spinal stenosis | |
|---|---|
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| A human vertebral column | |
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| Specialty | Orthopedic |
Cervical spinal stenosis is a bone disease involving the narrowing of the spinal canal at the level of the neck. It is frequently due to chronic degeneration,[1] but may also be congenital. Treatment is frequently surgical.[1]
Cervical spinal stenosis is one of the most common forms of spinal stenosis, along with lumbar spinal stenosis (which occurs at the level of the lower back instead of in the neck). Thoracic spinal stenosis, at the level of the mid-back, is much less common.[2] Cervical spinal stenosis can be far more dangerous by compressing the spinal cord. Such severe spinal stenosis symptoms are virtually absent in lumbar stenosis, however, as the spinal cord terminates at the top end of the adult lumbar spine, with only nerve roots (cauda equina) continuing further down.[3]
Signs and symptoms
Cervical canal stenosis may lead to serious symptoms such as major body weakness and paralysis.[3]
Cause
The etiology of Cervical spine stenosis is consistent with:[4]
- Arthritis
- Herniated disk
- Tumors
- Spinal injuries
Diagnosis
In terms of the diagnosis of Cervical spinal stenosis we find the following is done:[5]
- Computed tomography (CT) (scan of the spine)
- MRI (spine)
Treatments
Nonsurgical treatment
Potential nonsurgical treatments include:
- Education about the course of the condition and how to relieve symptoms
- Medicines to relieve pain and inflammation, such as acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Exercise, to maintain or achieve overall good health, aerobic exercise, strength training muscles that support the neck and spine, core exercises, and posture correction.
- Weight loss, to relieve symptoms and slow the progression of the stenosis
- Physical therapy, to provide education, instruction, and support for self-care; physical therapy instructs on stretching and strength exercises that may lead to a decrease in pain and other symptoms
Surgery
Potential surgical treatments include:
- Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion – A surgical treatment of nerve root or spinal cord compression by decompressing the spinal cord and nerve roots of the cervical spine with a discectomy to stabilize the corresponding vertebrae.
- Laminoplasty – A surgical procedure to relieve pressure on the spinal cord by cutting the lamina on both sides of the affected vertebrae (cutting through on one side and merely cutting a groove on the other) and then "swinging" the freed flap of bone open.
- Laminectomy – A surgical procedure in which the lamina of the vertebra is removed or trimmed to widen the spinal canal and create more space for the spinal nerves and thecal sac.[6]
See also
References
- 1 2 Meyer F, Börm W, Thomé C (May 2008). "Degenerative cervical spinal stenosis: current strategies in diagnosis and treatment". Dtsch Ärztebl Int. 105 (20): 366–72. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2008.0366. PMC 2696878. PMID 19626174.
- ↑ Vokshoor A (February 14, 2010). "Spinal Stenosis". eMedicine. Archived from the original on March 2, 2011. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
- 1 2 Waxman, SG (2000). Correlative Neuroanatomy (24th ed.).
- ↑ Branch, NIAMS Science Communications and Outreach (11 April 2017). "Spinal Stenosis". National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
- ↑ "Spinal Stenosis". medlineplus.gov. Archived from the original on 26 May 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
- ↑ "Laminectomy". Archived from the original on 24 November 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2012.