Prognosis and Risk Factors in Cervical Spondylosis

The morphometry of the spinal cord in patients with cervical compression myelopathy revealed a close correlation between the transverse area and the spinal cord plasticity. The latter is defined as potential recovery from neurological impairment after decompression surgery. The transverse area of the spinal cord thus proved to be a reliable parameter dictating its plasticity under compression. Various factors, such as chronicity of disease, age at surgery, and developmental or acquired dynamic canal stenosis, influenced the transverse area. Changes of intramedullary signal intensity on MR images indicated both reversible and irreversible degenerations of the spinal cord as well. An extensive intramedullary syrinx or binocular lesion with high signal intensity (T2-weighted) revealed poor prognosis of myelopathy in general.