Osteophytes develop from degenerating joint cartilage or along calcifying spinal ligaments, as well as along the edges of vertebral bone under increased stress.
Osteophytes develop from degenerating joint cartilage or along calcifying spinal ligaments, as well as along the edges of vertebral bone under increased stress. They are caused by 1  : Natural aging. 2  Degenerative disc disease. 3  Obesity. 4  Improper use. 5  Overexertion. To compensate for this additional load, bony growths form along the edges of the vertebrae above or below the disc. These growths are called osteophytes, or bone spurs, and the condition is known as disc osteophyte complex. Home / Conditions Treated / Degenerative Disc Disease. Degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical (neck region) spine indicates that the intervertebral disc has undergone degenerative, wear-and-tear (arthritic) changes, which may or may not lead to significant neck pain and spinal problems. The physical findings for cervical degenerative disc disease are nonspecific. Patients may have cervical tenderness if the pain is severe. Often, the neck range-of-motion is decreased, but the neurologic examination is normal. Special tests such as the Spurling's test and Hoffman's sign are usually negative. The medical term for bone spurs is osteophytes, and they represent an enlargement of the normal bony structure. Basically, osteophytes are a radiographic marker of spinal degeneration (aging), which means that they show up on X-rays or MRI scans and are by and large a normal finding as we age. Many patients are told that they have bone spurs in their back or neck, with the implication that the bone spurs are the cause of their back pain. Overview. Degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical (neck region) spine indicates that the intervertebral disc has undergone degenerative, wear-and-tear (arthritic) changes, which may or may not lead to significant neck pain and spinal problems. The physical findings for cervical degenerative disc disease are nonspecific. Patients may have cervical tenderness if the pain is severe. Often, the neck range-of-motion is decreased, but the neurologic examination is normal. Special tests such as the Spurling's test and Hoffman's sign are usually negative. Cervical osteophytes are bone spurs that grow on any of the seven vertebrae in the cervical spine (neck), involving the spine from the base of the skull to the base of the neck (C1 - C7 vertebrae). 1  Read more: Cervical Spine Anatomy and Neck Pain. More than half of people over the age of 60 have osteophytes, or bone spurs, somewhere in their bodies. Osteophytes in the spine are a normal sign of aging and are not a cause for concern unless they result in pain or neurological symptoms. Most osteophytes exhibit no symptoms. However, bone spurs within the spine do present a potential problem for nerve roots and the spinal cord. If they become too large or develop in the wrong spot, nerve compression can result, accompanied by symptoms that include pain, tingling, numbness and muscle weakness. To compensate for this additional load, bony growths form along the edges of the vertebrae above or below the disc. These growths are called osteophytes, or bone spurs, and the condition is known as disc osteophyte complex. Watch: Lumbar Osteophytes (Bone Spurs) Video. The term bone spurs is really a bit of a misnomer, as the word spurs implies that these bony growths are spurring or poking some part of the spinal anatomy and causing pain. However, contrary to this implication, bone spurs are in fact smooth structures that form over a prolonged period of time. Many patients are told that they have bone spurs in their back or neck, with the implication that the bone spurs are the cause of their back pain. Osteophytes (bone spurs) are a bony growth or cartilage protrusion that forms in a degenerating joint. Osteophytes can develop as marginal (on the periphery of joints) or central (mostly in the knee and hip). The majority of people over the age of 50 show some type of osteophytes upon radiographical examination.  The discs act as shock absorbers for the spine, allowing it to flex, bend, and twist. Degenerative disc disease can take place throughout the spine, but it most often occurs in the discs in the lower back (lumbar region) and the neck (cervical region). The changes in the discs can result in back or neck pain and/or: As we age, our spinal discs break down, or degenerate, which may result in degenerative disc disease in some people. These age-related changes include: 1  The loss of fluid in your discs. 2  This reduces the ability of the discs to act as shock absorbers and makes them less flexible.
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