Cervical spondylotic myelopathy and radiculopathy

Appropriate management of degenerative cervical spine conditions requires careful elucidation of the presenting clinical syndrome. Because of the pervasiveness of degenerative changes in asymptomatic patients, a clear correlation of symptoms, physical signs, and imaging findings is required before any specific diagnosis can be made. At this time, surgery is not recommended for prophylactic decompression in asymptomatic patients or in those patients with neck pain in the absence of extremity symptoms. In most patients with radiculopathy or mild myelopathy, a trial of nonsurgical management is recommended. Ultimately, patients with neurologic complaints and in whom nonsurgical measures have failed, as well as those with more pronounced myelopathy, should be offered surgical intervention. Selection of the safest, yet sufficient, approach requires a clear understanding of the benefits and expected outcomes. The outlook for patients with both cervical radiculopathy and early myelopathy is good. Radicular symptoms usually improve, but gait and hand changes may not. LF is preferred in younger patients with posterolateral or lateral soft disk herniations, or focal foraminal osteophyte impingement and predominance of upper extremity symptoms. More central 1- or 2-level pathology should be treated with ACDF. Anterior cervical corpectomy should be entertained in patients with nondisk level encroachment and in those with 3 contiguous levels of pathology. This approach is also required in cases of kyphosis and instability. Laminoplasty is indicated in patients with 4 or more levels of stenosis, particularly in those with global conditions such as continuous OPLL or congenital stenosis. In these patients, kyphosis or severe deformity may be addressed with a circumferential approach.