Neck pain with and without affection of nerve roots

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of neck pain is 30-50 %, and those most affected are women and people in working age. Neck pain and other musculoskeletal complaints are among the most common causes for sick leave and disability pension in Norway, which emphasises the need for guidelines on diagnostic assessment and treatment of these patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This paper is based on a review of "The Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorder", Cohrane overviews and some additional sources. RESULTS: A classification of neck pain into grades I-IV is recommended as a tool for daily clinical work. Unspecific neck pain (grades I and II) is still a challenge and the various underlying conditions are not well defined. Diagnostics and assessment of neck pain is mainly directed towards nerve root affection (grade III) or serious neck disease (grade IV). INTERPRETATION: Treatment of neck pain is not sufficiently evidence-based, as there are few high-quality publications within this field. Research within the field is clearly needed and should be prioritized nationally.