Neck pain in the elderly: common causes and management.

Neck pain is common in the elderly. An outline of the relevant anatomy and pathological conditions which affect the cervical spine and an approach to diagnosis are presented. Intrinsic causes of pain arise in the vertebral column itself--arthritis, discogenic disorders, trauma, tumors, and infection; in the cervical musculature--myofascial pain syndrome, torticollis, and whiplash; and in the spinal cord from tumors. Differentiation of these causes from extrinsic causes of neck pain will enable the appropriate management protocols to be implemented. Many of these problems can be treated effectively at the primary care level. Guidelines for specialist referral are suggested.