Degenerative spine disease encompasses a spectrum of age-related and biomechanical changes affecting the intervertebral discs, facet joints, ligaments, and vertebral bodies. These degenerative processes lead to loss of disc height, osteophyte formation, ligament thickening, and altered spinal alignment, collectively contributing to pain, instability, and neural compression. Degenerative spine disease is a leading cause of chronic neck and back pain and may progress to neurological compromise.

Patients may present with localized axial pain, radicular symptoms, or myelopathic features depending on the spinal region involved. Pain is often mechanical in nature, exacerbated by activity and relieved with rest. Progressive degeneration may result in spinal stenosis, disc herniation, or segmental instability, each contributing to symptom evolution.

Neurosurgical assessment involves detailed history-taking, physical examination, and correlation with imaging findings. Magnetic resonance imaging is essential to evaluate disc integrity, neural compression, and soft tissue changes, while dynamic radiographs may reveal instability. Accurate diagnosis distinguishes degenerative pathology from inflammatory, infectious, or neoplastic causes.

Conservative management is appropriate for many patients and includes activity modification, pharmacological therapy, and structured rehabilitation. Surgical evaluation is warranted when patients experience progressive neurological deficits, intractable pain despite adequate conservative treatment, or structural instability compromising spinal function.

Surgical strategies are individualized and may involve decompression, stabilization, or a combination of both. The goal is to relieve neural compression, restore spinal alignment, and maintain long-term biomechanical stability. Procedure selection is based on pathology distribution, patient symptoms, and functional goals.

Postoperative care emphasizes early mobilization, rehabilitation, and long-term spine health. Surgical outcomes depend on appropriate indication, precise technique, and patient adherence to postoperative recommendations.

Degenerative spine disease requiring surgical evaluation represents a complex condition necessitating comprehensive neurosurgical assessment and tailored intervention to achieve durable symptom relief and functional recovery.