Myelopathy due to multilevel cervical canal stenosis with Forestier disease: case report

A 56-year-old woman presented with multilevel myelopathy associated with Forestier disease (FD). The patient was hospitalized for dysphagia, bilateral shoulder pain, and progressive gait disturbance. The diagnosis was confirmed by radiography and magnetic resonance imaging which demonstrated coalescent anterior osteophyte formation extending from C2 to C7 with atlanto-axial dislocation and persistence of mobility at C3-4, and a hyperintense area in the spinal cord at the C1 and C3-4 levels on T(2)-weighted images. Dynamic radiography showed no instability at the C1 and C3-4 levels. Decompressive laminectomy of the atlas, dome-like laminectomy, and facet fusion at C3-4 were performed, resulting in symptomatic improvement. Myelopathy is very rare in patients with FD and is due to mechanical stress at the level where mobility persists. Strategic intervention should be considered based on evaluation of mobile levels and stenotic lesions.