title: Adolescent cervical disc degeneration in MRI does not predict adult headache or neck pain: A 5-year follow-up of adolescents with and without headache.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The impact of early degenerative changes of the cervical spine on pain in adulthood is unknown. The objective was to determine whether degeneration in adolescence predicts headache or neck pain in young adulthood.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of a follow-up of schoolchildren with and without headache, 17-year-old adolescents with headache at least three times a month (N = 47) and adolescents with no headache (N = 22) participated in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of the cervical spine. The same adolescents were re-examined by phone interview at the age of 22 years (N = 60/69, 87%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mild disc degeneration at the age of 17 years was common, but was not associated with either frequent or intensive headache or neck pain at the age of 22 years. Conclusion: Mild degenerative changes of the cervical spine in 17-year-old adolescents cannot be regarded as a cause of future headache or neck pain.
authors: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Finland Department of Public Health, University of Turku, Finland katri.laimi@tyks.fi.
authors: Katri
authors: K
authors: Laimi
authors: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Finland.
authors: Johanna
authors: J
authors: Pitkänen
authors: Department of Child Neurology, Turku University Hospital, Finland Department of Child Neurology, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland.
authors: Liisa
authors: L
authors: Metsähonkala
authors: Department of Biostatistics, University of Turku, Finland.
authors: Tero
authors: T
authors: Vahlberg
authors: Rehabilitation Centre, Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, Finland Department of Radiology, Turku University Hospital, Finland.
authors: Marja
authors: M
authors: Mikkelsson
authors: Child and Adolescent Health Care Unit, Turku City Hospital, Finland.
authors: Minna
authors: M
authors: Erkintalo
authors: Department of Public Health, University of Turku, Finland Turku Clinical Research Centre, Turku University Hospital, Finland.
authors: Minna
authors: M
authors: Aromaa
authors: Department of Public Health, University of Turku, Finland Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Finland.
authors: Päivi
authors: P
authors: Rautava
authors: School of Medicine, University of Tampere, Finland.
authors: Pirjo
authors: P
authors: Anttila
authors: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Finland.
authors: Airi
authors: A
authors: Oksanen
authors: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Finland.
authors: Mikhail
authors: M
authors: Saltychev
authors: Department of Public Health, University of Turku, Finland Department of Child Neurology, Turku University Hospital, Finland.
authors: Matti
authors: M
authors: Sillanpää
keywords: Adolescent; MRI; disc degeneration; headache; neck pain