Comparison of pathological characteristics in young and senile cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type

doi:10.3321/j.issn:1673-8225.2004.11.006

Abstract：BACKGROUND: The incidence of young cervical spondylosis has a gradually increasing tendency in recent years. However, as a common type of cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type(CSA), there is little analysis in the differences between young and senile patients clinically.OBJECTIVE: To discuss the clinical characteristics and different pathogenesis of young and senile CSA patients.DESIGN: A retrospective study based on diagnosis.SETTING and PARTICIPANTS: Totally 154 young and senile CSA patients were selected from the outpatient of Neurological Department of Qilu Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University. There were 58 cases in young group and 96 cases in senile group.METHODS: To observe the different clinical manifestations, X-ray characters, blood flow rate and electroencephalogram variability in two groups.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Main clinical manifestations, cervical vertebral X-ray manifestations, blood flow rates of vertebral artery and basal artery, and electroencephalogram variability.bral space, osseous hyperplnsia, and soft tissue calcification in senile group (x2 = 10. 387, 55. 250, 6.311, P = 0. 001, 0. 000, 0. 012); significant unultrasound scanning via cranium: Systolic blood flow rate in left vertebral artery and mean blood flow rate in basal artery were significantly slow in senile group ( t =2. 633, 2. 538, P ＜ 0. 05), which suggested an arterial stenosis; a rapid blood flow rate was found in young group, which suggested a electroencephalogram between groups.CONCLUSION: Young patients mostly suffer from flexure stralghtness,neural root agitation and vascular spasm; while senile patients suffer from narrowing intervertebral space, nerve compression caused by osseous calcification with slight neural root agitation but mostly arterial stenosis.