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A correlation between magnetic resonance imaging and electrophysiological findings in cervical spondylotic myelopathy
T Kanchiku1, T Taguchi, K Kaneko
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube, Japan. kanchiku@mx5.tiki.ne.jp
Study Design:
Correlation between compressed spinal cords on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electrophysiological findings in cervical spondylotic myelopathy patients.
Objective:
To clarify the correlation between spinal-cord-evoked potentials and MRI measurements of compressed spinal cords in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy.
Summary Of Background Data:
Compression of the spinal cord does not always cause clinical symptoms and it is difficult to infer the degree of dysfunction of the spinal cord from MRI findings.
Methods:
Seventeen patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy were examined with MRI and spinal-cord-evoked potentials before surgery. Using abnormality in spinal-cord-evoked potentials as indicators of spinal cord morphology, spinal-cord transverse area and compression ratios (central and 1/4-lateral) were measured on T1-weighted axial imaging. The correlations between these dimensions and electrophysiological findings were investigated.
Results:
The mean preoperative transverse area of the spinal cord was 47.13 mm2. The mean preoperative central compression ratio of the spinal cord was 34.4%. The mean preoperative 1/4-lateral compression ratio of the spinal cord was 27.5%. A correlation (Spearman r=0.65, P < 0.01) was observed between the 1/4-lateral compression ratio of the spinal cord and the amplitude ratio of spinal-cord-evoked potentials after electric stimulation of the brain (Br(E)-SCEPs).
Conclusions:
The preoperative 1/4-lateral compression ratio of the spinal cord was found to reflect the degree of dysfunction of the corticospinal tracts.
