• Xiaoyu Yang, Diederik S A Karis, and Vleggeert-LankampCarmen L ACLADepartment of Neurosurgery, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands..
• Department of Neurosurgery, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands. Electronic address: X.Yang@lumc.nl.
• Spine J. 2020 May 1; 20 (5): 754-764.

BackgroundThe contribution of Modic changes (MCs) in relation to spinal pain and degenerative changes has been evaluated frequently. However, most studies focus on lumbar spine. The association between MCs, neck pain, and cervical disc degeneration is not clear.PurposeThe objective of this study was to review current literature on the association between MCs, cervical disc degeneration, and neck pain.Study DesignA systematic review METHODS: A literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science using a sensitive search string combination. Studies were selected by predefined selection criteria and risk of bias was assessed using a validated Cochrane Checklist adjusted for this purpose.ResultsFourteen articles that associated MCs with neck pain and/or cervical disc degeneration were included in the present study. Ten articles showed low risk of bias and four showed intermediate risk of bias. The prevalence of MCs in cervical spine varied from 5% to 40% and type II was predominant. Patients with MCs were reported to experience more neck pain and disability. Cervical disc degeneration was detected more frequently in patients with MCs.ConclusionsModic changes were found to be associated with neck pain and with disc degeneration. Therefore, the large variation in prevalence that is reported is highly dependent on the nature of the studied population.Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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