CERVICAL SPONDYLOTIC MYELOPATHY: THE PATTERN OF NEUROLOGIC DEFICITS an‎d IMPROVEMENT FOLLOWING ANTERIOR CERVICAL DECOMPRESSION

We evaluated the specific pattern of pre- and postoperative neurological signs and symptoms of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) to determine findings which had a predictive value for surgical outcome. Consecutive patients with CSM caused by osteophytic ridge or intervertebral disc herniation who underwent anterior cervical decompression and fusionin Loghman Hakim Hospital from 1999-2003 were prospectively enrolled. Patients were evaluated postoperatively by office visit. Outcome was assessed by objective neurological examination and scoring with multiple functional rating scales. Forty – three patients (30 male, 13 female) with a mean age of 48.8 years fulfilled our inclusion criteria. The most common preoperative symptoms were sensory deficit in distal upper limbs (88.4%), gait disturbance (69.8%) and sensory deficit of distal lower limbs (58.1 %). The most common signs were hyperreflexia (95.3%), Hoffman's sign (93%) and Babinski's sign (83.7%). Vertebral osteophyte and soft disc herniation were found in 86% and 14% of the patients, respectively. Overall functional improvement, evaluated by using a modification of the Japanese Orthopedic Association Scale was noted in 79.7% of the patients who had an abnormal scale preoperatively. Strength improved considerably and significantly after operation. However, less than half of the patients experienced functional improvement in the lower limbs, a discrepancy that was probably caused by persistent spasticity. Atrophy of the hand muscles, preoperative spastic gait and cord atrophy as shown in MRI were poor prognostic factors.