Length of MRI signal may predict outcome in advanced cervical spondylotic myelopathy

To study clinical and radiological factors that may correlate with independent walking (IW) following advanced cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) surgery.

A retrospective case series including all advanced CSM patients (Nurick 4 and 5) who underwent surgery from 2003-2010 in the Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Saud University and King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Only patients with 6 months or more follow-up were included. A neuroradiologist who was blinded to the clinical data reviewed all MRI studies.

Forty-three patients were included (83% males, mean follow-up 29 months). A better preoperative neurological status was a positive predictor of IW after surgery (85.7% Nurick 4 versus 36.4% Nurick 5, p=0.001). Independent walking was less likely in patients with the following MRI features: longer T2-weighted image (T2WI) signal changes (p=0.001), well-circumscribed T2WI signal changes (p=0.028), T1WI hypointensity (p=0.001), and narrow spinal canal diameter (p=0.048). Multivariate regression revealed that both an increased T2WI signal change length and T1WI hypointensity were independent predictors. The risk of dependent walking increased by 1.35 times as the T2WI signal intensity length increased by one mm, and by 14-times with T1WI hypointensity.

Regaining IW after surgery in patients with advanced CSM was less likely for cases showing MRI features of longer T2WI signal changes and T1WI hypointensity. Better baseline walking, less defined T2WI signal change, and a wider spinal canal were good prognostic factors.