Cervical spondylosis

Cervical spondylosis, or arthritis of the neck, is the medical term for age-related, wear-and-tear changes that occur over a lifetime. Just like a hip or knee joint, the facet joints in the spine can develop arthritis from the wear and tear they endure as you get older. If the cartilage that protects these joints wears out, bone-on-bone contact can develop, which may result in the formation of bone spurs or bony projections. Over time, bone spurs can narrow the space for the spinal cord and/or nerves.

In many cases, cervical spondylosis can be asymptomatic.1 Once symptoms do arise, cervical spondylosis can respond well to non-surgical treatment that may include medication and/or physical therapy. Surgery is not commonly recommended for cervical spondylosis and neck pain unless your doctor determines that your spinal cord and/or nerves are being compressed.

How to prepare for surgery Recovery
References:
  1. Kelly JC, Groarke PJ, Butler JS, Poynton AR, O'Byrne JM. The natural history and clinical syndromes of degenerative cervical spondylosis. Adv Orthop. 2012.
Important information

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT SPINE SURGERY

Some of the images on this website depict Stryker’s products. Please speak to your doctor if you have questions about these products or anything else in this website.

The information presented is for educational purposes only. Stryker is not dispensing medical advice. Please speak to your doctor to decide if spinal surgery is right for you. Only your doctor can make the medical judgment regarding which products and treatments are right for your own individual condition.

As with any surgery, spinal surgery carries certain risks. Your surgeon will explain all the possible complications of the surgery, as well as side effects. Each spinal surgery patient will experience a different post-operative activity level, depending on his/her own individual clinical factors. Your doctor will help counsel about how to best maintain your activities in order to recover properly from your surgery. Such activities include not engaging in high-impact activities that could de-stabilize any instrumentation that may have been implanted.

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Ask your doctor if spine surgery is right for you.

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