Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Cervical myelo-radiculopathy in athetoid cerebral palsy

  • Current Problem Case
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cervical myelopathy complicating athetoid cerebral palsy has not been adequately highlighted in the literature. We report two cases of patients with athetoid cerebral palsy and long histories of involuntary movements who developed cervical myelo-radiculopathy. Dystonic athetoid neck movements may cause excessive axial neck rotation as well as flexion and extension movements of the spine. These repetitive exaggerated movements may result in early degenerative changes of the vertebrae which may enhance the myelo-radiculopathy. The two patients were treated with combined anterior and posterior fusion with satisfactory results. They were bedridden preoperatively but have since started walking with or without a cane. We conclude that combined anterior and posterior fusion is the treatment of choice for severe myelopathy complicating athetoid cerebral palsy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Anderson WW, Wise BL, Itabashi HH, Jones M (1962) Cervical spondylosis in patients with athetosis. Neurology 12:410–412

    Google Scholar 

  2. El-Mallakh RS, Rao K, Barwick M (1989) Cervical myelopathy secondary to movement disorders. Neurosurgery 24:902–905

    Google Scholar 

  3. Fuji T, Yonenobu K, Fijiwara K, Yamashita K, Ebara S, Ono K, Okada K (1987) Cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy secondary to athetoid cerebral palsy. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 69:815–821

    Google Scholar 

  4. Hirose G, Kadoya S (1984) Cervical spondylotic radiculomyelopathy in patients with athetoid-dystonic cerebral palsy. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 47:775–780

    Google Scholar 

  5. Levine RA, Rosenbaum AE, Waltz JM, Scheinberg LC (1970) Cervical spondylosis and dyskinesias. Neurology 20:1194–1199

    Google Scholar 

  6. Nishihara N, Tanabe G, Nakahara S, Imai T, Murakawa H (1984) Surgical treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy complicating athetoid cerebral palsy. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 66:504–508

    Google Scholar 

  7. Ooba H, Kawabata M, Munemoto T, Udagawa S, Ochiai N (1980) An experience of the cervical decompression laminectomy for an adult athetoid cervical palsy complicated with tardy quadriplegia. Kanto J Orthop Traumatol 11:438–441 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, 701-01, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan

    Y. Mikawa & R. Watanabe

  2. Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyoto Municipal Hospital, Kyoto, Japan

    J. Shikata

Authors
  1. Y. Mikawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Watanabe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Shikata
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mikawa, Y., Watanabe, R. & Shikata, J. Cervical myelo-radiculopathy in athetoid cerebral palsy. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 116, 116–118 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00434115

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00434115

Keywords

Search

Navigation