Non-invasive evaluation of vertebral artery blood flow in cervical spondylosis with and without vertigo and association with degenerative changes

Cervical spondylosis is a common disease that results from degenerative changes of the cervical spine and vertigo may occur in this process. The aim of the present study was to assess the blood flow measurements of the vertebral artery (VA) using color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) in patients who have cervical spondylosis with and without vertigo. The study population included 101 patients with vertigo and spondylosis, 66 patients with spondylosis without vertigo, and 62 healthy controls. A bilateral decrease in the VA blood flow velocities were measured in patients with cervical spondylosis. A negative correlation was found between the stage of cervical degenerative changes and the flow velocities in patients with vertigo, while this relationship was not found in patients without vertigo. The CDUS evaluation of the pretransverse and transverse segments of VAs demonstrated significantly reduced flow velocities in patients with spondylosis. The degenerative changes in the cervical spine seem to be related to these velocity changes in the subgroup of patients who are also affected with vertigo. The pretransverse segment of the VA provides valuable measurements as well as transverse segment of the VA, and it can be used as an appropriate segment for CDUS examination in cervical spondylosis and associated vertigo.