Importance of Cervicogenic Dizziness / 日本農村医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

　　To determine the exact cause of dizziness and/or vertigo, 1000 outpatients were retrospectively studied. The most common diagnosis in all of the analyzed cases was cervicogenic dizziness (89%). Among these cases, 600 (67%) underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine, and 542 of these (90%) showed presence of a narrow spinal canal. It was important to measure the anteroposterior diameter of the spinal canal in each case and to have an accurate diagnosis based on diagnostic criteria. Dizziness and/or vertigo develop because of long-term, inappropriate neck posture in the presence of some kind of cervical disease. Triggers of dizziness and/or vertigo were different in men and women and in each generation. In elderly women, the characteristic trigger was long-term farming, gardening, weeding. About 79% of the cases were accompanied by stiff neck and shoulder; therefore, selection of appropriate muscle relaxants at appropriate doses as well as proper advice to patients regarding neck posture and lifestyle are very important in the treatment of cervicogenic dizziness. The results of this study emphasize the importance of cervicogenic dizziness as a cause of dizziness and/or vertigo that are difficult to cure.