In patients with spinal stenosis, magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine can be improved by using 3D driven-equilibrium fast spin echo sequences to provide a high-resolution assessment of osseous and ligamentous structures. However, it is not yet clear whether 3D driven-equilibrium fast spin echo sequences adequately evaluate the spinal cord itself. As a result, they are generally sup...

BACKGROUND Different perforation rates for cervical pedicle screws by disease are expected in relation to bone quality and pedicle morphology; however, no report comparing pedicle screw perforation rate by disease had previously been published. This study investigated the perforation rates of pedicle screws inserted to cervical pedicle by disease and vertebral level using a CT-based navigation ...

The natural history of cervical myelopathy involves both static and dynamic factors which trigger a cascade of reactions resulting in cord compression and ischemic dysfunction of the spinal cord. Conservative management is an option in those with mild Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy (CSM), though close clinical and radiological follow-up is important. Operative management remains the standard o...

A great deal of progress has been made over the past decade in understanding the role of secondary injury in the progression of brain and spinal cord injury, and the innate immune response has emerged as an important potential therapeutic target (e.g. Beattie, 2004; Donnelly and Popovich, 2008). The microglial response to CNS damage and subsequent invasion of the lesion by peripheral macrophage...

In patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy MRI sometimes shows increased signal intensity zones on the T2-weighted images. It has been suggested that these findings carry prognostic significance. We studied 56 subjects with cervical spinal cord compression. Twelve patients showed an increased signal intensity (21.4%) and a prevalence of narrowing of the AP-diameter (62% vs 24%). Furthermo...

The purpose of this study was to compare the results of 2 surgical strategies for 4-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy: a hybrid procedure using anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion (ACDF) combined with segmental corpectomy versus posterior laminectomy and fixation. Between 2002 and 2010, fifty-one patients with consecutive 4-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy were treated surgically, ...

The management of cervical spondylosis has evolved over the past decades. Surgical decompressive and stabilization techniques have become more widely accepted for use in patients with intractable pain or neurological deficits. Advances in neuroimaging, surgical technique, and surgery-related technology including the operating microscope and anterior fixation devices have all contributed to the ...

BACKGROUND It has been stated that individuals who have spondylotic encroachment on the cervical spinal cord without myelopathy are at increased risk of spinal cord injury if they experience minor trauma. Preventive decompression surgery has been recommended for these individuals. The purpose of this paper is to provide the non-surgical spine specialist with information upon which to base advic...

OBJECT The objective of this systematic review was to use evidence-based medicine to compare the efficacy of different surgical techniques for the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). METHODS The National Library of Medicine and Cochrane Database were queried using MeSH headings and keywords relevant to anterior and posterior cervical spine surgery and CSM. The guidelines group...

STUDY DESIGN Normal cervical sagittal length patterns were measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). PURPOSE The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of sagittal length patterns between the cervical cord and the cervical canal in flexion-extension kinematics. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE Cervical dynamic factors sometimes cause a cervical spondylotic myelopathy in elderly subjec...