The results of surgical treatment for cervical spondylotic myelopathy

• Published in: Acta chirurgica Iugoslavica Vol. 52; no. 1; pp. 91 - 95
• Main Authors: Radulovic, Danilo, Ivanovic, S., Jokovic, M., Tasic, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Serbian
• Published: Serbia 2005
• Subjects: Adult; Cervical Vertebrae; Decompression, Surgical; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Spinal Cord Compression - etiology; Spinal Cord Compression - surgery; Spinal Osteophytosis - complications; Spinal Osteophytosis - surgery; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0354-950X; 2406-0887
• DOI: 10.2298/ACI0501091R

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is th emost serious consequence of cervical intervertebral disc degeneration. The purpose of this study is to evaluate functional results of surgical treatment of patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy who underwent anterior or posterior decompressive operations.
we prospectively analyzed 57 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy who were operated in Institut for Neurosurgery in Belgrade (1995-2002). The severity of myelopathy is graded by Nurick myelopathy grading system. The average foloow-up period was 20 months.
Postoperative improvement schowed 75% of patients and 21% remained unchanged. Myelopathy worsening was observed in two patients, 4%. We didn't have serious operative complications. Selection of surgical approach was not significantly correlated with surgical outcome.
surgical decompression of cervical medulla is safe treatment that gives good chances for functional recovery in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy.