Abstract
Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a degenerative condition secondary to cervical cord compression; symptoms are variable (clumsiness or a loss of fine motion skills in the hand, spastic gait, vesicoureteral disturbance) and are related to spinal canal narrowing and spinal cord compression due to intervertebral disk bulging, posterior bony spur, deformity of uncovertebral joints, and hypertrophy of facet joints and the ligamentum flavum.
The therapeutic strategy should be decided on the basis of the symptoms, severity of cervical myelopathy, and general conditions. Surgery is not superior to conservative treatment for mild and moderate forms of CSM, whereas surgery is more suitable for patients with a clinically worse status.
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Further Readings
Iyer A, et al. Cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Clin Spine Surg. 2016;29:408–14.
Nouri A, et al. Degenerative cervical myelopathy: epidemiology, genetics, and pathogenesis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2015;40:E675–93.
Rhee JM, et al. Nonoperative management of cervical myelopathy: a systematic review. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2013;38:S55–67.
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Video 43.1
A patient with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) exhibited slow motion in the rapid grip and release test. Lateral mass screw fixation (MOV 351613 kb)
Video 43.2
A patient with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) exhibited slow motion in the rapid grip and release test. Neurological examination of upper and lower extremities (MOV 232487 kb)
Video 43.3
A patient with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) exhibited slow motion in the rapid grip and release test. Grip and release test for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (ZIP 2173 kb)
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Kawaguchi, Y. (2022). Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy. In: Şenköylü, A., Canavese, F. (eds) Essentials of Spine Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80356-8_43
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80356-8_43
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
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