Three-dimensional analysis of the gait in patients with cervical myelopathy undergoing surgical treatment

Observational, longitudinal, and prospective study. To describe gait characteristics and evaluate the impact of decompressive surgery on improving gait quality after surgical spine decompression in patients diagnosed with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). All participants underwent a three-dimensional gait assessment before the surgical procedure, three months, six months and one year of follow up. The outcome measures used were the "Gait Profile Score" (GPS) and the "Movement Analysis Profile" (MAP). The GPS and MAP variables of healthy individuals from a database were compared with the values obtained from our study patients. Ultimately, all variables were compared between the preoperative period and the postoperative evaluations. There was no difference in the GPS and MAP values in the postoperative period for the variables General Total, Ankle flexion and extension, Pelvis inclination, Hip abduction and adduction, Pelvis rotation and Foot progression. Compared to the preoperative time results, there was a difference in the Pelvis Obliquity GPS and MAP at 3 and 6 months. We also found differences in hip flexion and extension, knee flexion and extension, and hip rotation in the late postoperative period (one-year follow-up) compared to the preoperative period GPS and MAP results. In addition to characterizing the gait analysis in patients with CSM, this study demonstrated the gait changes in patients with CSM during the 1-year clinical follow-up after surgical treatment with decompression of the cervical spinal canal.