FREQUENCY OF FINDINGS IN CASE OF CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS ON X-RAY

Abstract

Introduction:

Cervical spondylosis is a degenerative skeletal disorder that is becoming more prevalent all over the world with time. Poor neck posture puts excessive strain on the cervical spine which leads to significant morbidity. The disease presents on X-ray films in the form of various radiological patterns creating diagnostic difficulty among clinicians. Identifying the patterns prevalent in our society along with their age and sex distribution can help clinicians to diagnose cervical spondylosis early to start prompt treatment and decrease the morbidity associated with the disease.

Method:

It was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted at Surraya Azeem Waqf Teaching Hospital Chuburji, Lahore. X-rays of 252 patients diagnosed with cervical spondylosis on radiology during the duration of our study were included in the study. Age, Gender, Clinical history, and radiological findings on Anteroposterior or lateral cervical spine X-rays were documented. Data was analyzed using Med-CALC. The chi-square test was used to explore the p-value of significance for various radiological parameters among females and males.

Results:

Of these 252 patients, 48% patients had a moderate degree of cervical spondylosis, and 37.7% had straightening of the cervical spine. All the patients had anterior marginal osteophytes. The most frequently observed level of anterior marginal osteophytes was C5 (96.4%). The most frequently affected cervical intervertebral disc space was C5-C6 (81.7%). Bilateral cervical ribs were present in 1.5% of patients. The degree of cervical spondylosis showed a significant association with the age of patients (p<0.001) while there was no significant difference in frequency of cervical curvature abnormalities, anterior marginal osteophytes, presence of disc-space reduction, and degree of cervical spondylosis between males and females (p>0.05).

Conclusion:

Cervical curvature abnormality was equally prevalent in both genders suffering from cervical spondylosis but the severity of cervical spondylosis was more in elder patients. The most frequently involved vertebra in cervical spondylosis was C5 and the least affected vertebra was C3.