In Cervical Myelopathy: Clinical Effect of the Posterior Myelon Shifting After Dorsal Decompression and...

Objectives: Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a progressive neurological disorder caused by spinal cord compression in the cervical spine. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score is commonly used to quantify neurological impairment. Surgical decompression is the main treatment, aiming to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and improve neurological function. Historically, the primary goal was to halt disease progression; however, recent studies suggest an improvement even in cases with mild symptoms. The extent to which the shifting of the spinal cord contributes to clinical improvement remains controversial. Methods: This study included 95 patients who underwent dorsal decompression and instrumentation for cervical myelopathy between 2020-2024. Patients were followed up at 3 and 12 months post surgery. Results: Dorsal decompression resulted in a significant improvement in neurological function as measured by the JOA score at three months and one-year post-operation (0.0004 and 0.006, respectively). The average posterior spinal cord shift (PSS) was 3 mm. The prevalence of C5-palsy was 3.1%. Linear and logistic multivariable regression showed no significant relationship between PSS and JOA score alteration or subjective clinical improvement, but a multivariable regression analysis identified the ASA score as a significant negative predictor of neurological improvement. Conclusions: Dorsal decompression in CSM is a safe procedure concerning neurological complications and does not only stop the worsening of symptoms but indeed improves the JOA score and the subjective clinical situation. Although PSS was observed postoperatively, the extent of PSS showed no statistically significant relationship with JOA score improvement.