Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026
Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment of Human Brucellar Spondylodiscitis
Published on: May 23, 2021
Syndrome of cervical spondylosis in Blantyre, Malawi
1College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Chichiri, Malawi.
Insights
Cervical spondylosis in Malawians presents with diverse clinical and radiological features, primarily discogenic disorders causing brachial neuropathy. The findings support applying the term "cervical syndrome" to this condition.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Cervical spondylosis is a degenerative condition affecting the cervical spine.
- Understanding its presentation in diverse populations is crucial for diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define the clinical and radiological spectrum of cervical spondylosis in Malawian patients.
- To characterize the common manifestations and associated conditions.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study conducted at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Malawi.
- Inclusion of 37 patients (19 female, 18 male) diagnosed with cervical spondylosis.
- Conservative treatment was primary, with one case of laminectomy for cervical myelopathy.
Main Results:
- The majority of patients were in their fifth, sixth, and seventh decades.
- All patients exhibited discogenic disorder manifesting as brachial neuropathy.
- Other presentations included cervical myelopathy (13.5%), vertebro-basilar artery insufficiency, pseudoangina, and dysphagia (5.4% each).
- Anterior osteophytes were more prevalent than posterior osteophytes.
Conclusions:
- Cervical spondylosis in this cohort presented with a wide range of clinical and radiological findings.
- The term "cervical syndrome" is proposed as an appropriate descriptor for the varied manifestations observed.
Objective:
To define the spectrum of clinical and radiological presentations of cervical spondylosis in Malawians.
Design:
A prospective study.
Setting:
The Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre which is the main referral hospital in Malawi and the teaching hospital of Malawi College of Medicine.
Subjects:
Thirty seven patients (nineteen females and eighteen males) who presented with cervical spondylosis between February 1997 and September 1998.
Interventions:
Treatment was conservative except one patient with cervical myelopathy who had laminectomy.
Results:
Four of the patients were aged below 40 years; six were in the seventh decade, 13 in the fifth and fourteen in the sixth decades of life. All the 37 patients had discogenic disorder which manifested as brachial neuropathy. In addition, five (13.5%) had cervical myelopathy and two (5.4%) each had vertebro-basilar artery insufficiency, pseudoangina and dysphagia. Anterior osteophytes were three times as common as posterior osteophytes.
Conclusion:
In view of the various manifestations of cervical spondylosis the term cervical syndrome can be aptly applied to this disease.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Disorders of the Skeletal Muscle
Musculoskeletal disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders involve injuries and conditions affecting the skeletal muscles and associated connective tissues. These disorders can arise from acute biomechanical stresses or chronic overuse and can occur across different age groups. Common injuries include sprains, fractures, and muscular strains, often resulting from...
01:24Bacterial Meningitis
01:19Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction