Common auxiliary examinations for patients with cervical spondylosis? 1. X-ray examination of the cervical spine About 90% of normal men over 40 years old and women over 45 years old have bone spurs in the cervical spine vertebrae. Therefore, there are changes in the X-ray plain film, not necessarily clinical symptoms. Commonly used X-ray positions include frontal, lateral, double oblique and functional positions (forward flexion and extension, also called power position films). The X-ray findings related to cervical spondylosis are described as follows: (1) Orthostatic position: Observe for dislocation of the pivot ring joint, fracture or absence of the dentate process. The seventh cervical vertebrae should be observed for excessive transverse processes and cervical ribs. There is no widening or narrowing of the hook-cone joint and vertebral space. (2) Lateral position: change in curvature: straightening, loss of physiological protrusion or reverse curvature of the cervical spine. Abnormal mobility: In cervical hyperextension and hyperflexion lateral X-rays, one can see whether there are changes in the elasticity of the intervertebral disc and whether there is instability in the cervical spine. Bone redundancy: Bone redundancy and ligamentous calcification can be produced in the anterior and posterior parts of the vertebral body close to the intervertebral disc. Narrowing of the intervertebral space: The intervertebral disc can be thinned due to herniation of the nucleus pulposus and fibrous degeneration of the intervertebral disc with reduced water content, which is manifested as narrowing of the intervertebral space on the X-ray. Subluxation and small intervertebral foramen: After disc degeneration, the stability of the intervertebral body is low, and the vertebral body tends to subluxation, or slippage or instability of the vertebral body. Calcification of the collar ligament: Calcification of the collar ligament is one of the typical lesions of cervical spondylosis. (3) Oblique position: The right and left oblique films of the spine are taken, which are mainly used to observe the size of the intervertebral foramen and the osteophytes of the hook vertebral joint. 2.Electromyography of cervical spondylosis The electromyography of cervical spondylosis is based on the fact that both cervical spondylosis and cervical disc herniation can cause the nerve roots to degenerate due to long-term compression, thus losing the inhibitory effect on the innervated muscles. The uninhibited muscle fibers can produce spontaneous contractions due to the stimulation of small amounts of acetylcholine in the body. As a result, fiber potentials appear in one or both upper extremity muscles and occasionally a few fascicular fibrillation sites. During small forceful contractions, multiphase potentials are normal and no giant potentials appear. During large force contractions, a fully disturbed phase is present. The average time frame and average potential of motor unit potentials were normal. The amplitude was 1 to 2 mV. Cervical spondylosis is caused by extensive degeneration of the intervertebral discs, resulting in osteophytes. The damage to the nerve roots is more extensive and more muscles appear to be denervated. In patients with advanced lesions and longer disease duration, a decrease in wave number and amplitude can occur during active self-induced contractions. In contrast, cervical disc herniation is often a single disc herniation, and the changes are mostly in one upper extremity, and the range of innervated muscles is clearly segmental. 3.CT examination of cervical spondylosis CT has been used to diagnose insufficiency of arch closure, osteophytes, vertebral body fracture, posterior longitudinal ligament ossification, spinal stenosis, spinal canal enlargement or bone destruction due to spinal cord tumor, and to measure bone density to assess the degree of osteoporosis. In addition, the soft tissues inside and outside the dural sheath and the subarachnoid space can be clearly seen on cross-sectional images. Therefore, it can correctly diagnose disc herniation, neurofibroma, cavitation of the spinal cord or medulla oblongata, and has a certain value for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of cervical spondylosis. 5. MRI examination of the cervical spine MRI examination of the cervical spine is mainly used to diagnose cervical disc herniation (at present, MRI imaging technology is the most effective method for examining disc lesions. This is because MRI imaging has a high resolution of tissue density. The normal annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus can be distinguished without the need for other invasive examinations. MRI is also superior to CT in showing the direction and extent of disc herniation and understanding the presence or absence of disc degeneration.), observing calcification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine, excluding spinal cord tumors and spinal tumors, and clarifying the extent of cervical spine trauma and infection. Similarly, MRI is the most effective and specific test for the diagnosis of vertebral body and intervertebral space infections. MRI examination can also be used to clarify the diagnosis of diseases with congenital malformations and to exclude arteriovenous malformations.