Cervical spondylotic radiculopathy producing motor manifestations mimicking primary muscular atrophy

Cervical radiculopathy unaccompanied by pain or sensory disorder but manifested only by paresis, atrophy, fasciculation, and reflex loss is unusual. Three such cases are presented. Considerable diagnostic difficulty may arise in distinguishing patients presenting with these features from those who have primary motor neuron disease. Two additional case reports demonstrate that this distinction is not always possible. Diagnosis, management, and prognosis are discussed. Differentiation between motor neuron disease and spondylosis will avert needless surgery in the former group and will result in beneficial, sometimes curative surgery in the latter group.