Cervical myelopathy is a condition where the neck is being compressed, causing pain and disability. It's considered to be one of the most common neurologic, or nerve, disorders that is occurring more commonly in the older - or geriatric - population.

When someone has problems with the discs in their neck, the cervical discs, surgery is often needed. In the 1950s, two surgeons (Bailey and Badgley) developed a procedure that allowed surgery to fuse the discs together be done through the front (anterior) rather than the back (posterior). There were some problems with this though, as the patients often were limited in their range of motion and how well the fusion worked.

Physical therapists, like everyone else in the health care field, are working hard to find ways to treat patients safely and effectively. Instead of treatment as usual, therapists are striving to find scientific evidence to support (or refute) current treatment approaches.

The odontoid is a bony knob or upward projection of bone on top of the second cervical vertebra (C2). C2 is also known as the axis. The odontoid process is also called the dens. The dens points up and fits through a hole in the first cervical vertebra (called the atlas). The joints of the axis give the neck most of its ability to turn to the left and right.

It sounds like the injury is a fracture of the odontoid process (sometimes called the dens). The odontoid is a bony knob or upward projection of bone on top of the second cervical vertebra (C2). C2 is also known as the axis. The dens points up and fits through a hole in the first cervical vertebra (called the atlas). The joints of the axis give the neck most of its ability to turn to the left and right.

Researchers from Australia present the positive results of 42 patients with a Type II odontoid (neck) fracture who were treated conservatively (without surgery). Everyone in the study was at least 65 years old. Ages ranged from 67 to 91 years old. This type of fracture is most common in older adults who fall and break off the odontoid in the cervical spine (neck).

Severe pain in the neck or upper back, or immobility, can make it tough to live life normally. The pain can interrupt sleep, making you feel fatigued and subject to becoming ill. Fatigue can leave to sleepiness, which can cause fatal accidents. Pain also makes it so people can't work, go out, or even take care of themselves. If pain is having such an effect on a life, it may be that surgery - despite risks - is the only option.

Currently, arthroplasty - replacement of discs - is only approved for the mid to lower back. The United States FDA has not yet approved it for the cervical, or upper spine, yet. That being said, there are ongoing studies that are examining the usefulness and the efficacy of cervical spine arthroplasty and the medical community believes that it shouldn't be too long now that the FDA will approve it within the next few years.

Alan H. Daniels, MD, et al.

The cervical spine, or the upper part and the neck, can be hurt in many ways, from trauma and injury to osteoarthritis, the so-called wear and tear arthritis. Most often, conservative - nonsurgical treatment- is all that's needed to help the patient heal, but there are times when surgery is necessary.

Halo braces are used to help stabilize the neck. To apply a halo brace, the surgeon needs to drill holes into the skull around the head to insert pegs or screws that will hold the round, halo, part of the brace. The brace does weigh up to seven pounds.