Cervical spondylolysis described a defect of pars interarticularis of a cervical spine and must be distinguished from traumatic spondylosis radiographically. Charateristic radiographic findings of nontraumatic cervical spondylolysis include well-corticated margins at the defect, ipsilateral dysplastic facets and compensatory hypertrophic change of the adjacent articular processes, spina bifida. The majority of the patients with radiographically proven cervical spondylolysis can be treated with conservative treatment but surgical treatment should be considered for those who failed nonoperative management or who present neurologic deficit with to an unstable spondylolytic defect.
