PREDICTABILITY OF OPERATIVE RESULTS OF CERVICAL COMPRESSION MYELOPATHY BASED ON PREOPERATIVE COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC MYELOGRAPHY

The transverse area and flattening ratio of the spinal cord were deter mined with preoperative computed tomographic myelography in 103 patien ts with cervical compression myelopathy: cervical spondylotic myelopat hy (n = 44); ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (n = 39); and cervical disc herniation (n = 20). With these values and othe r clinical items (eg, age, duration of symptoms, preoperative severity ), a linear model to predict postoperative recovery was attempted by m ultiple regression analysis. In cervical spondylotic myelopathy and os sification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, the transverse area of the spinal cord and the duration of symptoms were accepted as effe ctive explanatory variables to predict recovery. In cervical disc hern iation, regardless of the transverse area or duration, the recovery wa s good, and pathologic state was considered essentially different.