Contact

Cervical Stenosis & Myelopathy

What is cervical stenosis & myelopathy?

Cervical stenosis involves narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck, which can compress the spinal cord and nerves. When this compression affects spinal cord function, it causes myelopathy, resulting in a range of neurological symptoms.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of cervical stenosis and myelopathy include:

  • Neck pain and stiffness
  • Weakness or numbness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet
  • Difficulty with fine motor skills such as buttoning or writing
  • Problems with balance and coordination
  • C

Causes

Cervical stenosis and myelopathy commonly occur due to:

  • Degenerative changes like disc wear and bone spurs narrowing the spinal canal
  • Previous spinal injury or trauma
  • Congenital abnormalities leading to a narrow spinal canal
  • Other spine conditions that cause compression
  • Poor posture during growth (mainly related to kyphosis)

Diagnosis

Diagnosis involves:

  • Detailed clinical assessment focusing on neurological status
  • Imaging studies such as MRI and CT scans to visualise spinal cord and nerve compression
  • Electromyography and nerve conduction studies in some cases to evaluate nerve function

Treatment and Surgical Management

Initial treatment may include:

  • Physiotherapy and pain management
  • Activity modification and monitoring

Surgery is considered in patients with worsening neurological symptoms or significant spinal cord compression. Techniques include:

  • Decompression procedures to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and nerves
  • Fusion or stabilisation of unstable segments