Diagnostic criteria and new classification of the cervical spine syndrome

Objectives. Pain and functional disorders of the neck are widely diagnosed as "cervical spine syndrome". As this diagnosis is not able to sufficiently specify the different symptoms,a new classification with five pain syndrom es, created empirically,was developed. The aim of this study is to evaluate the predictive values of the diagnostic criteria respectively clinical fin dings of patients diagnosed with cervical spine syndrome. Methods. Within the two year time frame of the study all patients diagnosed with "cervical spine syndrome", which presented themselves at the clinic, were included. The statistic analysis was performed in multiple steps: univ ariate analyses, bivariate variable screening and the use of the logistic r egression model. Results. Within two years 653 patients previously diagnosed as suffering fr om cervical spine syndrome presented at the clinic; 332 of them were includ ed in the study. According to the diagnostic criteria they were attached to one of the five pain syndromes. The statistical analysis showed in 17 of 3 5 evaluated diagnostic criteria a significant association to one of the fiv e subgroups of the cervical spine syndrome. Conclusion. The statistical analyses revealed significant associations betw een diagnostic criteria which were assessed by clinical examination and the five subgroups of the cervical spine syndrome. The identified predictors r epresent the typical syndrome-associated diagnostic criteria of a certain s yndrome-subgroup.