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Updated: Jul 2, 2026
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Chronic Spinal Cord Compression
Published on: May 7, 2019
Surgical outcomes in cervical spondylotic myelopathy with severe cord compression and intramedullary signal changes:
El Fatih Bashir Elmalik1, Laila Metwaly2,3,4, Mohammed A A Mohammed5
1Department of Neurosurgery, Al-Ahli Hospital, Doha, Qatar.
Purpose:
To evaluate surgical outcomes in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) with intramedullary signal changes (IMSCs) and assess the impact of preoperative severity on recovery.
Methods:
This retrospective study included 312 patients undergoing cervical decompression. Neurological status was assessed using the mJOA score preoperatively and at 6-12 months. A subset of 43 patients was analyzed separately for inferential statistics using chi-square testing.
Results:
Severe CSM was present in 54.2% and moderate in 45.8%. Overall improvement occurred in 53.2%, with a mean mJOA increase of 2.9 points. In the subset, mean mJOA improved from 10.25 (SD 1.80) to 13.16 (SD 2.43). A significant association was found between preoperative severity and outcome (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Surgical decompression leads to meaningful neurological improvement, with outcomes influenced by preoperative severity.