Cervical Spine Injuries, Fractures and Whiplash - Uncovertebral Osteophytosis

Marked uncovertebral osteophytosis in a patient with severe radiating pain. The patient became pain–free postoperatively. This anatomical specimen from a 57–year–old car accident victim illustrates the posterior portion of an almost completely resorbed C5–C6 disc that is bordered by large and sclerotic endplate osteophytes (spondylophytes). These osteophytes and the hard remnants of the annulus form a "beak" that severely compresses the root sleeve traversing the lateral recess. At the level above a slightly more medial aspect of the intrathecal roots are shown as they converge towards their axillary pouch (root sleeve).

©2000 Wolfgang Rauschning, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Clinical Anatomy
Academic University Hospital
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Uppsala, Sweden
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