[The effect of the sympathetic nervous system on cervical spondylosis (author's transl)].

A study on the effect of injury to the cervical spine, especially the so-called whiplash injury of the neck, has revealed that many patients who have sustained cervical trauma complain of, or later develop, vertigo similar to that encountered in Ménière's syndrome. Some authors offer clinical evidence to show that vertigo results from cervical nerve root irritation which is due to hypertrophic arthritis of the cervical spine and which responds to cervical traction. The etiology of this symptom-complex, however, remains unknown and, presenting a controversial problem, while some authors point out that irritation of the sympathetic nervous system may be important in this symptom (Mèniére-like syndrome, Barré-Lieou syndrome). In this study, the significance of the sympathetic nervous system in cervical spondylosis was examined. A) The effect of electric stimulation (2V, 20cps, 1msec, 1mA) of the human anterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine on the finger plethysmograph (PTG). This stimulation resulted in manifest alteration of PTG, such as the appearance of tense wave or contracted wave, change of pattern and tachycardia. B) Stimulation of the tissue adjacent to the cervical vertebral column which affects the sympathetic nervous system by way of the central nervous system (ventro-median nucleus of hypothalamus: VMH) was examined by using local electroencephalogram (local-EEG) of cats. By electric stimulation (4-6V, 50cps, 1msec, 1mA) of the tissue adjacent to the cervical vertebral column, local-EEG of VMH was accelerated remarkably and blood pressure was increased. Stimulation of the sciatic nerve caused moderate acceleration with excessive electric stimulation (4-10V, 20cps, 1msec, 1mA); however, stimulation of muscles of the neck and back caused no acceleration. Sensitive receptors are probably located adjacent to the cervical vertebral column. Stimulation of the sympathetic nerve may result from stimulation of the central nervous system (hypothalamus) caused by irritation resulting from excessive instability of the cervical vertebrae. The stimulation of the sympathetic nerves may be important clinically in the pathogenesis of Barré-Lieou syndrome in cervical spondylosis.