[Cervical arthrosic myelopathies. Study of a series of 35 cases. Pathogenetic and therapeutic reflections]

A series of 35 myelopathies was studied. The clinical characteristics are detailed. Gaseous myelography remains the best contrast test for establishing this diagnosis, making it possible to distinguish between spinal cords with constriction by stages and "trestle spinal cords" these two conditions often seem related. The medical treatments are disappointing, and one can improve the lesional syndrome but rarely the post-lesional syndrome. Surgery by posterior laminectomy gives in the long run only 45 per cent of improvement. On the basis of these observations, the authors state the opinion that the majority of the cases combining a cervicarthrosis and melyopathy after the age of 55, reveal of mixed, vascular and mechanical pathogeny. Surgery appears most useful in young patients whose spinal cord is congenitally constricted and shows sings of clinical distress.