What Is Spondylosis?

Spondylosis refers to degenerative arthritis of the joints between the  vertebrae and/or neural foraminae. The interfacetal joints are not included in this term.

It is a common cause of back pain and if it is very severe can cause pressure on adjacent roots resulting in  sensory and/or motor problems, 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.

A direct pressure on the spinal cord which mostly occurs in the cervical spine may result in myelopathy [Characterized by global weakness, gait dysfunction, loss of balance, and loss of bowel and bladder control in severe cases].

Spondylosis of neck vertebrae is called cervical spondylosis. Lower back spondylosis is labeled as lumbar spondylosis.

The term spondylosis should not not be confused with

• Spondylitis: It means inflammation of a vertebra. Usual cause is infection

• Spondylolysis is a defect in the pars interarticularis of a vertebra
• Spondylolisthesis is the anterior displacement of a vertebra or the vertebral column in relation to the vertebrae below

Treatment

Treatment of spondylosis is usually conservative in nature and involves

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs),
• Physical Modalities like exercises and traction
• Lifestyle modifications.

Surgery is occasionally indicated.

Surgery is advocated for cervical radiculopathy in patients

• With  intractable pain
• Progressive symptoms
• Weakness that fails to improve with conservative therapy.
• Moderate-to-severe myelopathy.

In lumbar spondylosis, the surgery is indicated if there is a compromise of the canal space with symptoms  not improving on conservative treatment.