ABCs of the degenerative spine

[Degenerative instability of the lumbar spine].

Degenerative instability is difficult to define, diagnose, and treat. Diagnosis and treatment of degenerative instability are based on the biomechanical stability of the functional spinal unit as well as on the pathologic diagnosis of the disease. Recent advancements in biomechanical studies on the functional spinal unit and radiological diagnostic methods have introduced new diagnostic criteri...

Degenerative intraspinal cyst of the cervical spine

We describe two cases of degenerative intraspinal cyst of the cervical spine that caused a gradually progressive myelopathy. One case had a cyst that arose from the facet joint and the other case had a cyst that formed in the ligamentum flavum. The symptoms improved immediately after posterior decompression by cystectomy with laminoplasty.

Unstable degenerative spondylolisthesis of the cervical spine.

Unstable degenerative spondylolisthesis of the cervical spine is very rare. Slip usually occurs at the C3 on C4 or C4 on C5 levels, immediately above a stiff lower cervical spine. There are two clinical patterns: that with neurological involvement causing cervicobrachial pain or myelopathy and that with neck pain alone. The diagnosis can be made by flexion/extension radiography. All of our eigh...

Degenerative Stenosis of the Lumbar Spine

This paper presents an update on degenerative stenosis of the lumbar spine, which is a common pathological condition among patients over the age of 65 years. The anamnesis and physical examination need to be precise, since radiography often only provides indirect signs. Magnetic resonance imaging is necessary if the symptoms persist. The treatment for lumbar stenosis is a matter of controversy....

Operative treatment of multisegmental degenerative spine disease