[Nonsurgical treatment of patients with cervical spine pain--algorithm for proceeding]

Diagnosis and treatment of neck pain still remains a therapeutic challenge. Basing on available literature and their own experience the authors present an algorithm for the management of neck pain in daily orthopaedic practice. It is crucial to correlate correctly the patient's complaints, the physical examination and the laboratory findings (including conventional imaging modes and neurodiagnostic procedures). The chronologically organised algorithm should help the physician in find the optimal therapeutic solution for his patient. The use of this algorithm should also lead to a decrease in the number of unnecessarily performed surgical procedures.