[The X-ray diagnosis of degenerative cervical spinal instability]

Fifty patients with signs of cervical instability (Group A) and 50 persons without them (group B) were studied. Lateral roentgenograms of the cervical vertebrae of each case were taken in flexion, neutral and extension positions. The cervical lordosis, range of motion of the cervical spine (flexion-extension), angular displacement (AD) and horizontal displacement (HD) were also measured. The results show that cervical lordosis of group A was more straight than group B and the reverse curves and S-shaped curves were observed on the films of Group A. The range of motion of the cervical spinae in group A was less than that in group B (P < 0.05), while AD and HD in the former group were both remarkably larger than those in the latter. AD was seen mostly at C3, and C4,5, and HD was mostly at C3,4,5 and rarely at C6. These results indicate, that there was corresponding changes on X-ray films in patients with symptoms of cervical spinal instability and the symptoms selected could be used as the symptoms of degenerative instability. The methods and criteria for diagnosis of cervical spinal instability and its treatment were discussed in the paper.