Intervertebral disk disease

Neurologic dysfunction is the most common clinical manifestation of interve rtebral disk disease. This article is a comprehensive review of interverteb ral disk disease emphasizing clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of cervical and thoracolumbar disk disease. Clinical signs are determined by n euroanatomic localization and severity of spinal cord injury. Myelography i s most commonly used for determining the location and extent of the disk pr otrusion/extrusion; however, computed tomography and magnetic resonance ima ging are also common adjunctive and primary diagnostic techniques. Summarie s from recent studies will give the clinician an improved understanding on how to confront controversial issues regarding prophylactic and therapeutic management and prognosis.