The Relationship Between Generalized Joint Hypermobility and Cervical Disc Degeneration, Neck Pain: A Multidisciplinary Clinical Study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION[|]Generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) is a condition of the connective tissue, which has movement ability beyond the normal limit of synovial joints. Its effects on disc degeneration and neck pain are not fully known. The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between GJH and cervical disc degeneration that is detected in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and also neck pain.[¤]METHODS[|]Cases aged between 20 and 50 years who were admitted to outpatient clinics with neck and arm pain were included in the study. Their cervical MRIs were evaluated. Beighton score was used to evaluate these cases for GJH, and they were also evaluated prospectively using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain and Neck Disability Index (NDI) for disability.[¤]RESULTS[|]Of the 75 cases, 59 (78.7%) were female, 16 (21.3%) were male, and GJH was found in 15 (20%). There was no statistically significant difference in the values of Miyazaki grade parameters in all cervical disc levels and VAS and NDI values between the patients with and without GJH (p>0.05).[¤]DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION[|]This result suggests that GJH may not be a single risk factor for cervical disc degeneration, and VAS and NDI values increase in patients aged between 20 and 50 years.[¤]

Keywords

• cervical spine
• disc degeneration; generalized joint hypermobility; neck disability index; neck pain; visual analog scale.