Epidemiology

80% cancer patients have spinal metastasis at autopsy 

Spine is number one site for bony metastasis (50%)

Cause

Hexagon: PBBLTK

                 Prostate    Breast

Definition

Clinical diagnosis

- based on a sclerotomal distribution of motor &/or sensory symptoms or signs

Caused by impingement of exiting nerve roots

- HNP

- zygo-apophyseal / facet joint hypertrophy

- neuro-central joint hypertrophy

May be acute or chronic

Epidemiology

M>F

Peak age 50-54

C7 > C6

Definition

Spinal cord dysfunction
- extrinsic compression of the cord or its vascular supply
- caused by degenerative disease of spine

Epidemiology

Most common spinal cord dysfunction in patients > 55 years old
 

C5/6 commonest level

Epidemiology

Neck involved in 86%

- second most common site after hands and feet

- closely associated with MCPJ subluxation

Associations

Males / Steroid use / Seropositivity Nodules / Severe long standing disease

Conditions

Atlanto-axial subluxation

Subaxial subluxation

Superior migration ondontoid