A chiropractic case review

 Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy:
A Review and Case Report.

Jeffrey R. Cates, DC, DABCO*
Morris Marc Soriano, MD†

 *Private practice of chiropractic

E-mail Dr. Cates - cates@essex1.com   Click logo to go to Cates  homepage. 

200 North 6th Street
Oregon, IL 61061
(815) 732-2686

 †Private practice of neurosurgery
1021 N. Mulford Rd.
Rockford, IL 61108
(815) 395-1991

Abstract - JMPT Vol 18, Number 7 September 1995; Pgs 471-475: SSN 0161-4754

Objective: To present the clinical and neurological features of cervical spondylotic myelopathy by review and case presentation.

Clinical Features: Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a condition where the vascular and neural structures are compressed by bony spurring and soft tissue hypertrophy which causes ischemic damage to the spinal cord. While cervical spondylotic myelopathy is the most common cord disorder in older adults, the diagnosis is often missed since the initial symptoms are subtle and the condition usually presents with associated conditions such as nerve root involvement.

Intervention: The patient was referred to a neurosurgeon for a posterior decompressive laminectomy. The advancing symptoms of CSM were apparently halted by the surgery in this case until complication from a fall resulted in quadriplegia.

Conclusion: Appropriate testing can aid differential diagnosis of the condition and expedite appropriate management of the condition. Treatment may include surgical cervical decompression of the involved area. An untreated progressive spondylotic myelopathy may cause permanent neurologic damage to the spinal cord. It is the authors intent to call attention to the clinical signs and treatment of this underdiagnosed condition.1

Key Indexing Terms: Spondylotic Myelopathy, Cervical, spondylosis, Spinal Stenosis, Myelopathy, Spondylitis.