Nursing review section of surgical neurology international: Evaluation of cervical disc disease and when surgery is warranted.

BACKGROUND: Patients with cervical disc disease may present with radiculopathy (root compression), myelopathy (cord compression), or myeloradiculopathy. These complaints must be correlated with x-ray, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and computed tomographic (CT) scans. Although most patients can be managed nonsurgically, those with significant neurological deficits and larger disc herniations may require surgery.

METHODS: The symptoms of cervical radiculopathy include pain radiating down one or both arms, while myelopathy may result in more diffuse numbness tingling or weakness in the upper and/or lower extremities. The neurological signs for cervical discs include; focal or diffuse loss of motor strength changes in reflexes (hyporeflexic, normal reflexes, or hyperreflexia), a loss of sensation (e.g., to pin, vibration, touch, and position), and cerebellar dysfunction (e.g., loss of coordination). Patients' symptoms and signs must correlate with focal nerve root and/or spinal cord compression seen on MR and/or CT studies.

RESULTS: MR examinations best document soft disc herniations, while CT scans most readily demonstrate calcification/ossification of cervical discs and accompanying arthritic changes. Bulging/protruding can typically be managed nonsurgically. Alternatively, significantly extruded or sequestrated discs, resulting in moderate/marked spinal cord and/or nerve root compression may warrant surgery. Most operations from front of the neck for cervical discs are called anterior cervical discectomy/fusion (ACDF), while those performed from the back of the neck are called laminoforaminotomies.

CONCLUSION: Patients with cervical radiculopathy (root compression) and/or myelopathy (cord compression) with disc herniations on MR/CT studies may or may not require surgery.