CLINICAL SYMPTOMS AND PATHO-ANATOMIC CHAN GES IN CERVICAL MYELOPATHY

Clinical symptoms and patho-anatomic changes in cervical myelopathy du e to spondylotic changes are described. The leading symptoms are numbn ess and clumsiness of upper and lower extremity, mostly combined with gait disturbances. Muscle wasting primarily on the upper extremity lea ds to the myelopathic hand. Cervical myelopathy can be classified into five main groups: 1. Spastic tetraparesis with numbness and hyperrefl exivity of upper and lower extremity. The majority of patients present with the myelopathic hand. 2. Spastic paraparesis with lesion below C 6. 3.Spastic tetraparesis, mild or moderate, with deltoid muscle pares is. 4. Amyotrophic myelopathic hand with mild long tract signs. 5. Cen tral cord syndrome due to cervical spondylosis combined with trauma. F rom the therapeutic aspect, conservative treatment is often unsuccessf ul. It is important to relieve pressure on the myelon, and decompressi ve procedures, especially posterior laminoplasty techniques, are requi red. Earlier surgery provides better results.