title: Effect of cervical instability in sympathetic cervical spondylosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the etiology and treatment of sympathetic cervical spondylosis (SCS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients who with SCS had undergone operations for sympathetic cervical spondylosis were reviewed retrospectively from 1988 to 2000. Lateral views in flexion and extension of pre- and postoperative cervical X-ray were analyzed to quantify cervical instability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cervical instability was detected at one level in seven patients, two levels in ten patients, three levels in three. Cervical instability mainly occurred at C(3)-C(4) and C(4)-C(5). Cervical epidural block had a short time effect in the greater part of patients. Cervical discectomy and fusion at unstable segment was carried out in all 20 cases. The effective rate was 90%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cervical instability at C(3)-C(4) or C(4)-C(5) maybe an important factor in the etiology of sympathetic cervical spondylosis. Cervical epidural block may provide diagnostic information. Anterior cervical fusion were effective to treat sympathetic cervical spondylosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China.
authors.forename: Zesheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Zhongjun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Gengting
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D013169:Spondylolysis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*