J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2001 Jun;36(3):253-258.

Surgical Treatment of Cervical Myelopathy Due to Soft Disc Herniation

• Seo JG
• Kim BJ
• Ko HS
• Min BH
• Kang KM

Abstract

PURPOSE
To analyze the characteristics and surgical results in cervical myelopathy patients caused by soft disc herniation.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From June 1997 to August 1998. The authors treated cervical myelopathy patients who had a soft disc herniation. We evaluated the symptoms and signs, simple X-rays, the MRI, the JOA score and Hirabayashi's recovery rate.
RESULTS
On simple X-ray, the narrowest A-P diameter was 13 mm, as the average was 14.9 mm, and no bony structural stenosis was found. On MRI, the average of the cord compression was 2.92 mm, and the average A-P compression ratio was 40.2%. An intermediate to high signal change in the cord was found in 8 cases. All patients improved after surgery and the average Hirabayashi's recovery rate was 61.1%.
CONCLUSION
If, cord compression due to posterior soft disc herniation is severe, patients can have cervical myelopathy. Lateral disc herniation can also be a cause of cervical myelopathy. Cervical myelopathy due to soft disc herniation can be treated with a good results by using an anterior discectomy and interbody fusion method.

Keyword

Cervical spine; Soft disc herniation; myelopathy; Anterior interbody fusion

MeSH Terms

Constriction, Pathologic
Diskectomy
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Spinal Cord Diseases*