Cervical and thoracic pain.

The cervical spine has long been an area in which the assumption is made that no undescribed anatomy and physiology will be forthcoming. Herein described are cervical anatomy and physiology that have not been reported, as well as anatomy that has been extensively described but does not exist. Fresh research needs to be done on the distinctive and poorly understood characteristics of the autonomic nervous system in the cervical spine. Included in research reports are evidence of herniation of intradiscal gas; efficacy of early mobilization of patients with long-standing neck pain; successful surgical treatment relieving severe hemicranial migraine attack; and the use of magnetic resonance imaging in thoracic disk herniation, permitting precise localization and determination of the magnitude of cord compression.