Compression of Seventh Cervical Nerve Root by Herniation of an Intervertebral Disk

Several cases of herniation of a cervical intervertebral disk have been recorded in the literature, but nearly all of these have been instances in which compression of the spinal cord itself by a midline herniation predominated.1Semmes and Murphy2mention 4 cases from the literature which presented symptoms of compression of a cervical nerve root without involvement of the spinal cord and present 4 similar cases of their own. Three of the latter cases of unilateral herniation of a cervical intervertebral disk were verified by operation. The syndrome of compression of the seventh cervical nerve root as shown in the latter 4 cases was remarkably constant and occurred on the left side in all 4. All these patients gave a history of numerous "cricks" in the neck for months or years preceding the severe attack. Two gave a definite history of trauma to, or motion of, the neck