Review of literature on cervical spondylosis and homoeopathy

Dr Akhilesh Singh  

Introduction
Cervical spondylosis, a degenerative disease of the cervical spine, intervertebral discs, ligaments and cartilaginous material, is commonly seen in individuals after the age of 40 years and is believed to be part of the normal aging process of the vertebral column. It was shown by radiological investigation of asymptomatic individuals that spondylotic changes increase with each decade of life: 5-10% by the age of 20-30 years, >50% by age 45 years, and up to >90% by 60 years of age. Boden et al. reported about the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of sixty-three volunteers who had no history of symptoms indicative of cervical disease. The scans demonstrated an abnormality in 19% of the asymptomatic subjects: 14% of those who were less than forty years old and 28% of those who were older than forty [1]. Of the volunteers who were less than forty years old, 10% indicated a herniated nucleus pulposus and 4% had foraminal stenosis. Of the volunteers who were older than forty years herniated nucleus pulposus (5%) and bulging of the disc (3%) were minor findings in contrast to 20% with foraminal stenosis [1].

The prevalence of abnormal MRI of the cervical spine as related to age in asymptomatic individuals emphasizes therefore the dangers of predicting operative decisions on diagnostic tests without precisely matching those findings with clinical signs and symptoms [1]. Hayashi et al. in their radiological evaluation of cervical spondylotic myelopathy in elderly people studied 42 individuals over the age of 60 years and compared them with those of younger patients [2]. Myelography and post-myelography computed tomography (CT) showed multi-segmental lesions (average: 3.0 lesions) that contributed to the various clinical features of myelopathy [2]. The upper disc levels of C3-4 and C4-5 were predominantly involved in the aged patients [2]. Disc protrusion, posterior osteophyte and retrolisthesis, in addition to ligamentous entrapments, were the primary aetiological factors of myelopathy in this patient subgroup [2]. There are several main clinical syndromes which are described in relation to cervical spondylosis: (i) cervical spondylotic myelopathy, (ii) cervical radiculopathy, and (iii) neck pain syndromes. In this review we will try to look into myelopathy in more detail and give an overview about the actual knowledge of this disease including management and scope of homoeopathy.

Methodology
Medline and Embase databases were searched for trials, case series or case reports published between 1966 and March 2007. The terms used included: “cervical spondylosis”, “cervical spondylotic myelopathy”, “cervical radiculopathy”, and “neck pain”. More recent publications were used in preference to older ones, as the purpose of the review is to give an up-to-date review of the current knowledge. Older publications were retrieved if they were cited in the selected publications and were deemed significant for the purpose of this review. Pathophysiological background According to Stookey, the spinal cord disorder associated with cervical spondylosis (cervical spondylotic myelopathy) was originally attributed to compression of the cord by cartilaginous nodules of degenerate disc material [3]. Because these nodules are small compared with spinal tumours causing similar disability, it was suggested that compression by these alone could not explain the disorder. The rarity of the condition when compared with the frequency of the skeletal changes, the lack of correlation between the severity of the spondylosis and the severity of the paraparesis, and the disappointing results of surgical removal of the nodules further undermined the theory that compression of the spinal cord was not the sole explanation [4]. A progressive, age-related degeneration of intervertebral discs in the cervical spine is followed by a decrease of the intervertebral space. Clinical studies indicated that subperiosteal bone formation occurs next, forming osteophytic bars that extend along the ventral aspect [5, 6]. Uncinate process hypertrophy also occurs, often encroaching upon the ventrolateral portion of the intervertebral foramina. Nerve root irritation also may occur as intervertebral disc proteoglycans degrade. Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament can occur with cervical spondylosis and can be an additional contributing source of severe anterior cord compression.

Age-related hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum and thickening of bone may result in further narrowing of the spinal cord space. The consecutive myelopathy of the cervical spine may be due to direct spinal cord compression, ischaemia due to compression of related vascular structures, repeated local trauma to the spinal cord by physiological movements in the presence of osteophytic bars, or a combination of these factors [7]. Different investigators suggested the importance of interference with the blood supply of the cord [8-11]. In 1972, Nurick – for example – studied the importance of compressive factors and assessed the importance of ischaemia of the cord caused by spondylosis but arising independently of compression [12]. Cervical spinal myelopathy (CMS) patients have a significant reduction of the spinal canal’s sagittal diameter, which has been correlated with increased neurological deficits [12]. However, generalized vascular disease had no apparent effect on the severity of CSM [12]. Additionally, degenerative kyphosis and subluxation are fairly common findings that may further contribute to spinal cord compression in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Free radical- and cation-mediated cell injury, glutamatergic toxicity and apoptosis may be of additional relevance to the pathophysiology of cervical spondylotic myelopathy [7]. The pathological course of cervical spondylotic myelopathy is therefore characterized by early involvement of the corticospinal tracts, and relative preservation of anterior columns. A more recent review evaluated current evidence for CSM and evaluated the works of different investigators demonstrating ischaemia as one of the major underlying factors in patients with CSM [13].

Anterior compression compromises perfusion through the transverse arterioles arising from the anterior sulcal arteries, while posterior cord compression works to reduce perfusion to the intramedullary branches of the central grey matter. More recently, shearing forces have been theorized to be important factors in the pathophysiology of cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Narrowing of the spinal canal and abnormal or excessive motion may result in shear forces that cause axonal injury in the cervical cord, where changes seen in the cord may actually be a form of stretch injury [14]. Although the exact pa-thophysiology underlying cervical spondylotic myelopathy remains uncertain, it is largely accepted to be a disorder that involves compressive forces on the spine, likely due to multiple factors (Tables I and II). These mechanical factors in turn result in direct injury to neurons and glia as well as secondary cascade of events including ischaemia, excitotoxicity and apoptosis.
Cervical spondylotic myelopathy
Cervical spondylosis is the commonest cause of spinal cord disorders in patients over the age of fifty years [15]. Because its presentation may be subtle, involves elderly people and there are no pathognomic findings, diagnosis may be difficult. Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is part of the spectrum of degenerative disorders of the cervical spines and is the most devastating. There can be considerable overlap of the presentations of these disorders. There are five distinct syndromes isolated on the basis of clinical presentations [16]: 1) lateral or radicular syndrome – where nerve root symptoms (radicular pain or neurological deficits) predominate; 2) medial or myelopathic syndrome – characterized by long tract signs and symptoms; 3) a combined syndrome – which includes both root and long tract signs and symptoms and is the commonest form; 4) a vascular syndrome – may not present any clear sensory or motor symptoms because of the variable injury to the cord resulting from vascular ischaemia; 5) anterior syndrome – painless weakness in upper extremities without accompanying weakness in the lower extremities. This is attributed to pressure affecting only the anterior horns of the grey matter of the spinal cord.

Time course of symptoms
The narrowing of the spinal canal itself does not usually cause any symptoms. It is when inflammation of the nerves occurs at the level of increased pressure that patients begin to experience clinical problems. One of the first symptoms and also signs of cervical myelopathy is gait disturbance, especially in dark surroundings, when the optical control should be compensated for by the proprioceptive receptors in the feet. Cervical pain and mechanical signs are uncommon in cases of myelopathy. The onset of cervical spondylotic myelopathy is usually insidious and progressive, but may be step-like, with multiple remissions leading to an initial phase of deterioration followed by a stabilization that typically lasts for years and may not change thereafter in a small number of patients [17]. Thus, the degree of disability is established early in the course of cervical spondylotic myelopathy. In most cases the disability is mild, and the prognosis for these is good.

Clinical manifestations
The clinical definition of a myelopathy is the presence of long tract signs, which are the result of the spinal afferent or efferent (pyramidal) nerve tracts. Some myelopathic signs include hyperreflexia of deep tendon reflexes of the upper and lower extremities, increased muscle tone or clonus, and the presence of pathological reflexes, including Babinski’s sign (plantar reflex) and/or Hoffman’s sign. The upper extremities may be affected with compression of the cervical spinal cord. Hoffman’s sign is referred to as the “upper extremity Babinski’s sign”. It is elicited by stimulating the extensor tendon to the third digit by forcible flexion of the distal phalanx, followed by a sudden release, resulting in a flexion and adduction of the thumb and concurrent flexion of the index finger. Sometimes there is flexion of the other fingers as well. The sign is incomplete if only the thumb or only the index finger responds. Hoffman’s sign has a significant false positive rate [18], particularly in young women, and care must be taken with interpreting this sign [19]. There may be weakness and wasting of the hand muscles. Slow, stiff opening and closing of the fists may be seen [20]. It is not always appreciated, however well described by Ebara et al., that some patients with spinal cord compression will present with atrophy of the small muscles of the hands, described as “myelopathic hand”, as a result of segmental anterior horn cell necrosis [17, 21]. There is often proximal weakness of the lower extremities (mild to moderate iliopsoas muscle weakness occurs in about 50%) and a spasticity of the lower extremity. Severe cases of cervical spinal canal stenosis can also cause paraplegia, and significant loss of function also rarely, if ever, occurs.

In more than 70% of the cases, the reflexes are hyperactive at a varying distance below the level of cervical spinal canal stenosis; clonus or Babinski’s reflex may also be present. Additional signs of CSM include: • inverted radial reflex – tested by stimulating the distal brachioradialis tendon through gentle percussion, producing hyperactive finger flexion; • finger escape sign – provoked by placing the patient’s arms forward with the elbow pronated. A positive sign is noted if the patient is unable to maintain their hands in an extended position with the third to fifth digits abducted; • occasionally, patients describe an electric shock like sensation shooting down the spine, with flexion of the neck, known as Lhermitte’s sign. Myelopathy may also manifest as a loss of proprioception (80%), and, more commonly, gait or fine motor dysfunction, such as difficulty buttoning one’s shirt or change in handwriting [15]. The early phase of CSM is also characterized by clumsiness and unsteadiness with gait. Severe muscle atrophy caudal to the level of stenosis is uncommon with spondylotic myelopathy, unless it is detected in much later stages. Therefore if atrophy is present, physicians must evaluate for fasciculations, particularly proximal to the level of stenosis (i.e. tongue), and exclude the possibility of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Bladder sphincter symptoms are common (usually urgency), with anal sphincter disturbances being rare.

Differential diagnosis
Diagnosing degenerative disorders of the cervical spine starts with a good history and physical examination. Typically, patients demonstrate neck pain. This is the most common complaint. Unfortunately, neck pain is also a common complaint in the vast majority of people who have nothing more than a stiff neck. It is important to differentiate neck pain related to degenerative spinal disorders from other ailments (Table III). Some of these (e.g. spinal cord tumour) may be demonstrated radiologically. Asymptomatic cervical spondylosis is very common, and about 10% of cases of cervical spondylotic myelopathy are later found to be due to another disease process including: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, or subacute combined system disease [22]. The diagnosis is based on observation of the aforementioned neurological symptoms, a detailed physical examination and X-rays. A CT scan, MRI or a myelogram is necessary to confirm the diagnosis. This imaging studies are followed in some cases by other diagnostic studies such as laboratory investigations, neurophysiological or cerebrospinal fluid examinations for further differential diagnostic work-up. In this context, it must be emphasized that some degree of spondylotic changes is seen in 25-50% of the population over the age of 50 years, and in 75% of people over 75 years. Obviously, most people do not develop symptoms from these degenerative processes.

Management of cervical spondylosis
Medical management of cervical spondylotic syndromes, including axial neck pain, radiculopathy and myelopathy, typically includes pharmacological and rehabilitation components [23]. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, analgesics, antidepressants and anticonvulsants are frequently used in non-operative management of these conditions. Non-operative treatment option A thorough understanding of the natural history of degenerative disorders of the cervical spine will allow appropriate treatment to be carried out. The natural history of untreated axial neck pain from cervical spondylosis is not known. With non-operative treatment, approximately 75% of patients have complete or partial, but significant, relief of symptoms. Treatment studies of patients with cervical spondylosis with mixed symptoms of axial neck pain, radicular symptoms, or both, treated non-operatively, suggest that 45 to 60% of patients have good resolution of symptoms, with the remainder continuing with moderate to severe residual pain [24, 25]. Non-operative treatment of spondylosis with radiculopathy has not been compared with surgical therapy in randomized trials [23]. A large epidemiological survey of cervical radiculopathy in Rochester, Minnesota, found that 75% of patients improved with conservative care and 20% were treated surgically. After 6 years of follow-up, 90% of patients were doing well [26]. In addition, Kadaňka et al. compared in a randomized study conservative and surgical treatment of spondylotic cervical myelopathy to establish predictive factors for outcome after conservative treatment and surgery [27].

The clinical, electrophysiological and imaging parameters were examined to reveal how they characterized the clinical outcome. The patients with a good outcome in the conservatively treated group were of older age before treatment, had normal central motor conduction time (CMCT), and possessed a larger transverse area of the spinal cord [27]. The patients with a good outcome in the surgically treated group had a more serious clinical picture. Patients should preferably be treated conservatively if they have a spinal transverse area larger than 70 mm², are of older age and have normal CMCT. Surgery is therefore more suitable for patients with clinically worse status and a lesser transverse area of spinal cord [27]. The natural history suggests that for the most part, patients with axial symptoms are best treated without surgery, while some patients with radiculopathy will continue to be disabled by their pain, and may be candidates for surgery. Myelopathic patients are unlikely to show significant improvement, and in most cases will show stepwise deterioration. Surgical decompression and stabilization should be considered in these patients. With non-surgical therapy only 30-50% of patients are expected to stabilize (Table IV). However, there are a number of ways in which we can treat cervical degenerative disease leading to spinal stenosis without surgery. No carefully controlled trials have compared these modalities, so these therapies often are initiated based on a clinician’s preference or specialty. Comparing the efficacy of these non-operative treatment options against no treatment at all is difficult. In many cases, non-surgical treatment does not treat the conditions that cause the degenerative disorder of the spine; however, they might temporarily relieve pain. Severe cases of cervical stenosis often require surgery.

Surgical management
Operative management is indicated for progressive neurological deterioration, intractable pain and documented compression of nerve roots or of the spinal cord that leads to progressive symptoms [16]. Surgery has not been proven to help neck pain and/or suboccipital pain. Several approaches to the cervical spine have been proposed. The approach selected is determined by the type and location of pathology and by the surgeon’s preference. Indications for surgery are primarily: (i) patients with progressive myelopathy who may be neurologically stabilized with surgery, and (ii) patients with pain. Cervical radiculopathy can be approached either via the anterior approach or by the posterolateral approach. The general sentiment is to treat anterior disease (e.g. osteophytic bar) with an anterior approach. Using this approach, the compressive factors should not exceed 2-3 disc levels. An anterior approach is technically more demanding, carries a higher risk, and often requires fusion. For performing a decompressive cervical laminectomy/laminotomy (“posterior approach”), the compressive changes should be present in more than 2-3 disc levels. So called “keyhole foraminotomies” are carried out at levels involved with radiculopathy. Intraoperative violation of the facet joints can result in the postoperative development of a so-called “swan-neck deformity” [28].

The posterior approach to cervical radiculopathy has similar results as the anterior approach when used for the proper indications. Surgical intervention for cervical myelopathy is controversial. Once moderate neurological signs and symptoms develop, surgical intervention is likely to be beneficial over further medical treatment. However, the outcome of the surgical treatment is dependent on many factors and is often disappointing [29], even excluding cases that are later proven to have demyelinating disease. Most frequently discussed as potentially predictive factors for the outcome of surgery for CSM are age, duration of symptoms, preoperative clinical status, anteroposterior diameter of the canal and area of the spinal cord at the level of the maximal compression, findings of hyperintense areas in the spinal cord, one level or multilevel compression, congenital diameter of the spinal canal (expressed as Pavlov’s index), and chosen method of decompression [27]. It is often contended that progression of myelopathy can be arrested by surgical decompression. This is not always true, and conservative treatment may be as effective as surgery, with laminectomy yielding improvement in 55%, change in 25%, and worsening in 20%, which is similar to results with conservative treatment [30, 31]. As discussed earlier, in the natural course of cervical spondylotic myelopathy, most of the deficit occurs early and then stabilizes in a considerable number of cases. For this reason, one may suggest conservative treatment in oligosymptomatic patients [29].

Scope of homoeopathy
According to a study conducted by Burgerman et al suggest that multiple sclerosis and cervical spondylosis can coexist and suggests that this coexistence may result in an interaction that compounds the deleterious effect on the nervous system[40].According to a study conducted by Dr. K. Suwaamynaathan at Sarada Krishna Homoeopathic Medical College Kulasekharam on “A clinical study on the role of LM potency in the management of pain in cervical spondylosis on 2016-2019,” homoeopathic medicines in LM potency are very effective in the management of pain in cervical spondylosis: Individualized homoeopathic medicines along with auxiliary measures appeared to produce promising treatment effects by reducing NRS and NDI scores in CS after 3 months of intervention[41].As shown in a study conducted by Dr. Smitha Madhavan titled “A study on effectiveness of Homoeopathic medicines in the management of cervical spondylosis presenting with cervical radiculopathy,” homoeopathic medicines are effective in the management of cervical spondylosis presenting with radiculopathy, with the majority of patients being between the ages of 31 and 40. The disease is more common among the middle class.

In the background, Psora is the main miasm[42].A prospective, double-blind randomised placebo-controlled multicentric clinical trial by Gupta, Bawaskar,et al suggests that the improvement in pain was 56.18% in the Homoeopathy group and 46.45% in the placebo group, as per CSPMS. The mean improvement between the groups was not significant: 60.36% in the Homoeopathy group and 48.66% in the placebo group. There was 27.95% more improvement in the Homoeopathy group, as compared to the placebo group. Among the most used medicines were Rhus toxicodendron (n = 19) 28.8%, Calcarea carbonica (n = 7) 10.6%, Kalmia latifolia (n = 7) 10.6% and Paris quadrifolia (n = 8) 12.1%.[43] A study conducted by Nisha Gopinath, (2018) named “A Comparative study on Pain Management of Cervical Spondylosis with Homoeopathic Medicine and Homoeopathic Medicine with Physiotherapy “at Sarada Krishna Homoeopathic Medical College, Kulasekharam Shows that Homoeopathic medicine alone can manage the pain in cervical spondylosis, but Homoeopathic medicine along with physiotherapy is more effective and faster to manage pain in cervical spondylosis[44].

Another study published in peer reviewed journal on 82 patients enrolled in this study, 31 patients were given bowel nosodes only; 69 patients (84.14%) were given bowel nosode alone or along with homoeopathic/biochemic medicines. The results of the study were, therefore, assessed in these 69 patients only. The study concluded that bowel nosodes could possibly be used effectively on the basis of the stool culture in the treatment of patients suffering from cervical spondylosis.[45]Homoeopathic individualized LM-potencies versus Centesimal potencies for pain management of cervical spondylosis: A multicenter prospective randomized exploratory clinical study suggests that homeopathic medicines in LM potencies are better than CM potencies for pain management of cervical spondylosis.[46]A 39-year-old female patient was treated in the outpatient department at Dr. D. Y. Patil homoeopathic medical college and research centre with the complaint of neck pain with stiffness. Radiological findings revealed the diagnosis of cervical spondylosis. Individualized homoeopathic medicine was selected after detailed case taking. ‘Modified naranjo criteria’ were used to assess the effect of homoeopathic medicine concluded that Homoeopathic medicine silicea terra was prescribed and found to be effective in this case.[47]

Conclusion
In conclusion, cervical spondylosis represents a degenerative disease of the cervical vertebrae, intervertebral discs and ligaments. In the majority of cases the degenerative process may not lead to clinical symptoms. But, it also causes disabling clinical problems such as myelopathy, radiculopathy and neck pains. There are different options for managing the clinical problems, which can broadly be divided into conservative and surgical methods. Milder clinical conditions and those who cannot tolerate surgery are treated conservatively and those who are not responsive to the medical treatments and those with disabling neurological syndromes are treated surgically.Homoeopathy is method of rapid, gentle and complete restoration of health in a cost effective manner hence provides a scope for its use in such a common disease condition.

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Dr Akhilesh Singh
Junior Resident ,NHMC&H.