Introduction to cervical radiculopathy

Ghasemi, Golabchi, 2013Radhakrishnan, 1994

Most cases of cervical radiculopathy are due to degenerative changes in the cervical spine or lateral disc herniation. Cervical radiculopathy is usually caused by compression or irritation of nerve roots in the cervical spine. The C7 and C6 nerve roots are most frequently involved. Rarely, it is caused by noncompressive conditions, including herpes zoster (shingles), malignancy, nerve root infarction and demyelination.

Cervical radiculopathy may be associated with spinal cord compromise (due to the same pathological process), so careful neurological examination and appropriate imaging are required to exclude myelopathy (see Cervical myelopathy).

Cervical radiculopathy is more common in males than females, and the incidence peaks between 50 and 54 years of age. In general, cervical radiculopathy has a favourable prognosis, with most people starting to improve within 4 weeks and many recovering within 6 months.