The Functional Outcome of Multisegmental Cervical Myelopathy Treated by Anterior Cervical Surgery

Abstract

Background: Cervical spondylosis is a degenerative condition in which there is narrowing of cervical spinal canal and neural foramina secondarily due to multifactorial degenerative changes. In cervical spondylotic myelopathy there is spinal cord dysfunction. The degenerative changes cause reduction in disc height, facetalarthosis, motion abnormality, spur formation which leads to compression of the cervical spinal cord. Methods: In this prospective study 40 patients of cervical myelopathy radiculopathy and myeloradiculopathy were included in the study. After doing the anterior cervical surgery in Multisegmental Cervical Myelopathy, postoperatively all the patients were assessed for the functional outcome using MJOAss at postoperative interval of one month, three months and six months. Results: Mild, moderate and severe MJOAss (postoperative) at 6 months was present in 87.5%, 10% and 2.5% of the study population respectively. Hoarseness of voice (10%) was the most common complication followed by dysphagia (5%), graft site infection (2.5%) and myocardial infarction (2.5%) amongst the study population. Conclusion: Surgery is preferred in clinically evident Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy patients. The decision of surgery is made on the basis of disability duration, symptoms and cervical spinal stenosis which are outweighted to the risk of operative intervention. The purpose of surgery is to decompress the spinal cord and stabilise the spinal column.