top of page

Text Neck Syndrome: Solutions

Due to identical cervical spine pathologies, different patients may exhibit varying clinical symptoms, which can be significantly diverse and complex. Simply relying on symptoms to diagnose cervical spine disorders is insufficient. Therefore, neurosurgeons require medical imaging examinations—such as X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT)—to conduct detailed assessments of the cervical spine and neural structures. This aids in accurate diagnosis and is essential for devising effective and safe treatment plans. This article will further elucidate the clinical examination, diagnosis, and treatment of cervical spine conditions by specialist physicians, aiming to enhance readers' understanding.

On the Phone

Clinical Examination and Diagnosis

We learned that patients may experience symptoms arising from cervical spine instability, predominantly headaches, neck pain, and shoulder discomfort. When cervical spine lesions lead to nerve compression, patients may suffer from dizziness, tinnitus, or sensory and motor function disorders—such as limb numbness, neuropathic pain, muscle weakness, or even atrophy—and may also exhibit gait disturbances. Besides these common symptoms, some patients might present with vagus or parasympathetic nerve symptoms, such as palpitations, gastric discomfort, and emotional disturbances, which are peculiar and difficult to explain.

​

After ascertaining the patient's symptoms and clinical history, neurosurgeons will also explore their occupation, daily leisure activities, and exercise routines, including daytime work postures and nocturnal sleeping positions. By integrating this information, physicians can determine whether the patient's cervical spine pathology is primarily due to degeneration, strain, or injury.

Prevention and Conservative Treatment of Cervical Spine Disorders

Daily Prevention

As cervical spine pathologies often stem from prolonged incorrect lifestyle habits and postures leading to continuous premature degeneration, strain, and injury of the cervical spine, prevention is evidently better than cure. Preventive awareness should commence from a young age. Whether using smartphones, tablets, engaging in daily clerical computer work, or even considering sleeping postures at night, one should consistently maintain the normal physiological curvature of the cervical spine with a slight forward bend, avoiding becoming part of the "text neck" generation.

​

It is crucial to recognise that poor sleeping posture during the unconscious seven to eight hours at night is also a primary cause of cervical spine disorders. The pillow used during sleep should neither be too high nor too low, too hard nor excessively soft. It should provide adequate support for the normal physiological curvature of the cervical spine. During sleep, one should also be mindful of keeping the head, cervical spine, and torso aligned in a neutral, straight line, avoiding excessive twisting or tilting of the cervical spine to the left or right.
 

Conservative Treatment

For the majority of cervical spine patients (over 95%), if an accurate diagnosis and treatment are obtained in the early stages of the disease, conservative non-surgical treatments are often viable. These include one to three months of medication, adjustments to daily lifestyle habits and postures, physiotherapy, or safe chiropractic treatments. Since most early-stage patients can alleviate or resolve symptoms through conservative treatments, seeking prompt medical attention and appropriate interventions can often prevent the condition from progressing to a severe stage necessitating surgical intervention.

Surgeons in Operating Room

Surgical Options for Cervical Spine Disorders

Minimally Invasive Neurosurgical Cervical Spine Surgery

A minority of patients in the advanced stages of the disease (less than 5%) may exhibit symptoms of cervical spine instability—namely severe headaches or neck pain—and may also present with nerve compression symptoms of the cervical spine, displaying significant sensory and motor neurological dysfunctions such as severe neuropathic pain, limb weakness, muscle atrophy, and gait instability. These late-stage patients require prompt minimally invasive neurosurgical cervical spine surgery to decompress the nerves, thereby preventing permanent neurological deficits due to delayed treatment.

​

Microscopic Surgery and Continuous Intraoperative Neurological Monitoring

Minimally invasive neurosurgical cervical spine surgery is performed under a neurosurgical microscope and guided by X-ray imaging. In certain special circumstances, surgeons may utilise continuous intraoperative neurological monitoring systems to ensure that the compressed spinal cord functions are progressively improving during the procedure. Additionally, this system serves to protect the patient's neurological functions, preventing deficits.

​

Tailoring Surgical Plans for Different Cervical Spine Patients

Given that each patient possesses unique cervical spine pathological structures and symptoms, physicians must customise suitable surgical methods and treatment plans based on individual symptoms, age, and factors such as the risks and safety associated with the surgical procedures. For instance, if symptoms involve cervical spine instability—manifested as severe headaches and neck pain—the patient may require anterior or posterior cervical fusion surgery to restore spinal stability and alleviate pain.

Screenshot 2024-09-17 at 12.24.06.png

Preoperative (left) and postoperative (right) MRI scans demonstrate effective decompression of the central cervical spinal cord.

Screenshot 2024-09-17 at 12.23.56as.jpg

Top Row: Supine Position

Bottom Row: Side Position

Whenever possible, lie on your back. Ensure your pillow is of appropriate height and provides sufficient support for the normal physiological curvature of the cervical spine. Maintain a straight alignment of the head, neck, and torso.

Screenshot 2024-09-17 at 12.24.13.png

Left Image (Healthy Spine):

  • Top Label: "Healthy Spine"

  • Central Label (Yellow): "Spinal Cord"

  • Top Label (Blue): "Intervertebral Disc"

  • Side Label (Yellow): "Nerve Root"

Right Image (Damaged Spine):

  • Top Label: "Damaged Spine"

  • Central Label (Yellow): "Spinal Cord"

  • Top Label (Blue): "Intervertebral Disc"

  • Side Label (Yellow): "Nerve Root Compression"

  • Lower Label (Red): "Thickened Ligamentum Flavum"

Screenshot 2024-09-17 at 12.24.20.png

Postoperative X-ray Following Occipital-Cervical Surgery: The postoperative X-ray reveals that the patient's cervical spine flexibility and stability have been preserved after occipital-cervical surgery.

bottom of page