Cervical spondylosis is a disease that has a large impact on modern people, and it is not an exaggeration to say that one person over the age of 40 has one or more severe or mild cervical spondylosis. There are many types of cervical spondylosis, of which vertebral osteophytes are the most common of the many cervical spondylosis, but also the initial stage of many cervical degenerative changes, many patients check the X-ray plain film will be found to have varying degrees of osteophytes, so what is the matter with cervical osteophytes, how should be treated with osteophytes, is currently plagued by many patient problems, many articles or professional explanation and difficult to understand As a neurosurgeon, I am here to talk to you about the characteristics and treatment of osteophytes in a simple and graphic way. The causes of osteophytes In layman’s terms, osteophytes belong to the normal degeneration of the human body. When the cervical spine is subjected to repeated strain and long-term activity, the normal bone is subjected to long-term wear and tear, and the normal bone has a self-protective function, and in order to reduce the damage to itself, new bone grows to protect itself under repeated stimulation and hematoma mechanization, but this growth is uncontrolled, so the new growth However, this growth is uncontrolled, so the new bone growth does not protect itself, but grows out in the form of bone spurs, which become a pathogenic factor. There are two types of osteophytes. 1. Bone spurs that grow into the spinal canal are relatively uncommon, but the consequences are more serious. They often cause spinal stenosis and require surgical intervention. 2. Bone spurs that grow toward the anterior edge of the vertebral body are the most common. This type is very common, and because the bone mostly grows toward the muscle, smaller bone spurs usually do not produce too serious consequences, but when they are larger, they tend to pull the muscle and even stimulate the vertebral artery leading to spasm of the vertebral artery and vertigo symptoms. Does osteophytes need surgery Generally speaking, simple osteophytes do not need surgery, and most patients can obtain more satisfactory results through physical and pharmacological therapy. Only the following cases require surgery 1. Osteomalacia mainly grows into the spinal canal and causes severe spinal cord symptoms 2. Osteomalacia combined with herniated discs and spinal stenosis require surgery.