Endemic fluorosis presenting as cervical cord compression

Neurological involvement in fluorosis occurs in the advanced stage of the disease and is due to compression of the spinal cord and/or nerve roots. There are only a few reports on the role of surgical management of these cases in the medical literature. Five cases of fluorosis from the endemic areas of Uttar Pradesh, India, had associated cervical cord compression. Their mean age was 43 yr (range 35-50), and all cases were manual laborers. Three patients with blocked cervical subarachnoid space on myelography underwent laminectomy using local anesthesia. All three cases improved significantly after surgery. The usefulness of laminectomy in selected cases of cervical cord compression due to fluorosis is suggested.