apophyseal

The primary benefit is supposed to be the opening of the intervertebral foramen, the stretching of ligmentous structures, and the distraction of the apophyseal joints.

Each of the apophyseal and ligamentous articulations of cervical spine is susceptible to the same inflammatory changes as those in peripheral joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The apophyseal pits may also become closely approximated, the boundaries between pleuron and sternum may be lost by fusion and a cuticular inflection may be developed along the mid-line of the ventral surface.

Associated radiological findings include a vacuum phenomenon (in the nucleus pulposis of the adjacent intervertebral disc), reduction of disc height with corresponding loss of the disc space, marginal sclerosis of the adjacent vertebral bodies, osteophyte formation and apophyseal joint instability.