J Korean Soc Spine Surg.  2006 Dec;13(4):234-239.

Mono-segment Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

• Ryu JS
• Chae JW
• Cho WJ
• Moon MS
• Chang H

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective follow-up study comparing soft disc cervical myelopathy (Group A) and spondylotic bar cervical myelopathy (Group B).
OBJECTIVES
To analyze different factors by comparing preoperative radiological and clinical data of Group A with that of Group B. SUMMARY AND LITERATURE REVIEW: The different causes of cervcal myelopathy resulted in different symptoms and prognoses. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A clinical and radiological analysis of the data in 31 patients who underwent an anterior cervical decompression and fusion was performed to assess the different factors between two groups. The patients were classified into two groups; 20 in Group A and 11 in Group B. Comparisons between the two groups were made in regard to the physical findings, radiological and clinical evaluation.
RESULTS
The duration of myelopathy was 3 months in Group A and 8.7months in Group B. Of all cases, 5 cases (25.0%) in group A and 4 cases (36.4%) in group B had myelopathy associated with radiculopathy. Of the 20 cases in group A with myelopathy, 7 cases had a median compression and 13 cases had a paramedian compression on MRI. Of the 11 cases in group B with meylopathy, 9 cases had a median compression and 2 cases had a paramedian compression on MRI. The follow-up MRI of the 14 cases (73.7%) in group A and 2 cases (20.0%) in group B showed spontaneous regression of the T2 WI high signal intensity.
CONCLUSION
In degenerative disc disease, the different causes of cervcal myelopathy result in different symptoms and prognoses. However, the treatment of choice in both groups is a one level anterior decompression and fusion.

MeSH Terms

Decompression
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Prognosis
Radiculopathy
Retrospective Studies
Spinal Cord Diseases*

Figure

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  Fig. 1. cervical myelopathy due to soft disc on axial view of T2 WI MRI and CT.

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  Fig. 2. cervical myelopathy due to spondylotic bar on axial view of T2 WI MRI and CT.

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  Fig. 3. cervical myelopathy due to soft disc on sagittal view of T2 WI preoperative and postoperative MRI.

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