Degenerative Diseases of the Spine

SUMMARYThe spine may be involved by a variety of degenerative processes which demonstrate characteristic radiographic manifestations. Intervertebral osteochondrosis is associated with “vacuum” phenomena, disk space narrowing and vertebral sclerosis; spondylosis deformans is associated with osteophytosis; osteoarthritis manifests as joint space narrowing, bony sclerosis and hypertrophy, and rarely osseous fusion; ligamentous degeneration may be associated with calcification and ossification. Although any one degenerative process may exist as an isolated phenomenon, these processes often coexist; degenerative change or altered stress at one articulation of the spine frequently produces abnormal stress and associated degenerative changes at an adjacent articulation.DISH and OPLL are disorders of uncertain etiology characterized by ligamentous calcification or ossification; in addition, DISH shares many features with spondylosis deformans. An ossifying diathesis or bone‐forming tendency appears to underlie both of these disorders.Complications which may accompany degenerative diseases of the spine include abnormalities of vertebral alignment, intervertebral discal protrusions, and spin