Cervical spine disorder
Cervical spine disorder | |
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Cervical vertebrate |
Cervical spine disorders are illnesses that affect the cervical spine, which is made up of the upper first seven vertebrae, encasing and shielding the spinal cord. This fragment of the spine starts from the region above the shoulder blades and ends by supporting and connecting the skull.[1]
The cervical spine contains many different anatomic compositions, including muscles, bones, ligaments, and joints. All of these structures have nerve endings that can detect painful problems when they occur. Such nerves supply muscular control and sensations to the skull and arms while correspondingly providing our bodies with flexibility and motion.[1] However, if the cervical spine is injured it can cause many minor or traumatic problems, and although these injuries vary specifically they are more commonly known as "cervical spine disorders" as a whole.[1]
Symptoms
It is through upper frontal chest discomfort (also known as
- Numbness Numbness occurs when one develops a "pinched" nerve not allowing for the flow of electrical charges, which may result in the death of the nerve fiber.[3]
- Weakness An individual becomes weak due to the compression of nerves encompassing cervical spine disorders, thus resulting in the inability to move or use arms.[3] Those with such symptoms should seek medical treatment as soon as possible.[3]
Complications
If not treated right away, there are many consequences and pains various cervical spine disorders can cause.[1]
- Neck pains Pains in the neck area tend to be tenacious and persistent and most muscles in the cervical spinal region tighten causing for discomfort.[1]
- Headaches Headaches are further triggered through the stiffness of neck muscles, which pull at their attachment to the skull. These headaches are recurrent in nature and start from the base of the skull and emanate upwards; they can be painful or mild.[1]
- Arm pains Muscular spasms within the arm are further common symptoms in which such spasms are seen right above the collarbones and pressure is placed on the Brachial plexus causing arms to feel heavy and ache.[1]
- Difficulty walking Hardships arise with cervical spinal injuries when issues with walking, balancing, and posture are affected all due to the spinal cord being compressed resulting in Myelopathy.[3]
- Those with extremely severe outcomes may result in:Impairment[4]
Cause
There are several conditions and syndromes that can affect the cervical spine and they all vary due to the difference in place and type of injury.
- Rheumatoid arthritis Those affected with occipital pain and myelopathy.[5]
- Occipito-cervical junction This disorder may result from rheumatoid arthritis, causing the hypermobility of the connection between the neck and head, resulting in paralysis or pain.[6]
- Cerebrovascular disease Cerebrovascular disease is a type of cervical spine disorder that can cause tetraplegia.[7]
- Subaxial cervical spine[8]
- Atlanto-axial joint
Age factors
- The elderly Because of such symptoms, people often mistake cervical spine disorder indicators for coronary artery disease, and although individuals of any age can develop spine threatening injuries, the people that are affected by it the most are the elderly. This is because as one ages spinal discs that absorb any type of shock wear out increasing elders' chances of developing degenerative alterations in their cervical spine.[3]
- The young Patients younger than eight years old with cervical spinal cord casualties have an increased chance of dying while those older than eight years have similar effects as adults. They are usually immobilized from the shoulder up until consciousness is regained and symptoms are gone.[5]
Diagnosis
The diagnosis process might include a physician who tests that the movement, strength, and sensation of the arms and legs are normal. The spine is examined for its range of motion and any pain that may arise from movement. Blood work might be utilized in addition to
Treatments
If one's symptoms are mild, treatments like
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Neck Pain and Cervical Spine Disorders". Minneapolis Clinic of Neurology.
- ^ ProQuest 229343382.
- ^ a b c d e Cervical spine disorder. "Medtronic". Retrieved from http://wwwp.medtronic.com/Newsroom/LinkedItemDetails.do?itemId=1169645895363&itemType=backgrounder&lang=en_IN Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
- ProQuest 223115626.
- ^ ProQuest 232743067.
- ^ ProQuest 205129467.
- ProQuest 229343756.
- ^ Degenerative spine disorders. Retrieved from http://neurosurgery.ucsf.edu/index.php/spine_disorders_cervical.html Archived 2014-06-05 at the Wayback Machine
Further reading
- Todd, Andrew G. (20 September 2011). "Cervical spine: degenerative conditions". Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine. 4 (4): 168–174. PMID 22021015.