Myelopathy

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Original Editors - Bram Van Laer

Top Contributors - Lena Vanderaa, Simisola Ajeyalemi, Vidya Acharya, Admin, Manisha Shrestha, Kim Jackson, Rachael Lowe, Kai A. Sigel, Karen Wilson and Tony Lowe  

Search Strategy

Databases
• Pubmed
• Web of Knowledge
• Google Scholar
• Medscape
Search Words
• Myelopathy
• Lumbale myelopathy
• Thoracic myelopathy
• Compressive myelopathy

Definition/Description

Myelopathy is a term used to describe any neurologic deficit related to the spinal cord. It’s usually due to compression of the spinal cord by osteophyte or extruded disc material. It is most commonly localized in the cervical spine but it can also occur in the thoracic and lumbar spine.⁵
There are many primary infectious, inflammatory, neurodegenerative, neoplastic vascular, idiopathic and nutritional disorders that results in myelopathy. These causes are much less common than disco genic diseases, metastases or trauma. Further explanations will be given in the following paragraphs.⁵
To determine the grade of severity of the myelopathy you can use the Nurick classification. The classification is based on abnormalities in the patient’s gait.⁷ This evaluation has demonstrated its sensitivity and validity. ⁸

The diagnosis of myelopathy depends on the neurological localization in the spinal cord, rather than the brain or peripheral nervous system. Also, the presence or absence of significant pain or trauma and the mode of onset is primordial to assess the myelopathy into clinical categories.⁵

Clinically Relevant Anatomy

The spinal column begins in the cervical region under the skull. It continues into the thoracic region and finally into the lower back where it connects to the sacrum and pelvis. The cervical region consists of 7 vertebrae, the thoracic region of 12 vertebrae and the lumbar region of 5 vertebrae.
Between the corpus and the proccesus of the vertebrae is the spinal canal. It’s a region in the middle of the spine where the spinal cord goes down and nerves travel toward the extremities. The brain and the spinal cord are packed in 3 membranes: dura mater, arachnoid mater and pia mater. Each one has their own structure and function.
Even though the spinal cord is well protected, it can be damaged by epidural or intradural causes. This is what’s happens when we’re talking about myelopathy.¹¹

Epidemiology /Etiology

Myelopathy can sometimes be a slow process. The symptoms can develop slowly over a period of months or it can go very fast.
It’s difficult to clinically distinguish myelopathy from other non-traumatic causes of myelopathy because the classic history is frequently absent or difficult to elicit from a seriously ill patient.

There are many risk factors that may cause or occur thoracic myelopathy.

Thoracic myelopathy occurs because of:
• Discus hernia⁵
• Spinal degeneration
• Facet degeneration
• Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy^2,4
• Calcification of ligamentum flavum^2,4
• Compression due to extradural mass (Spinal tumors)⁵
• Posttraumatic deformities⁵
• Infections⁵
• Angular kyfose (congenital, tuberculous, neurofibromatosis and posttraumatic kyphosis)³
• Vascular disorders (vascular malformations, spinal cord infarct and epidural hematoma)⁵
• Nutritional disorders⁵

Risk factors¹:

1. Age
2. Degrees of motor and sensory deficits

Degrees of spinal cord compression, absence of proximal stenosis and intramedullary hypertension this factors predicted the surgical outcome.

Characteristics/Clinical Presentation

Following characteristics may occurs:
• Muscle weakness
• Alterned muscle tonus
• Sensory loss (in trunk and legs) and spasticity
• Impaired coordination
• Walking problems^1,2
• Backache²
• Urinary disturbances

(Sometimes the patients have hypotony of theirs mucles.)

Differential Diagnosis¹⁰

It can be difficult to diagnose myelopathy because the clinical presentations are variable and sometimes like those of other disorders. That’s why it’s important to have a thorough history and complete physical examination of the patient.

In this case, it is very difficult to know which symptoms appear by myelopathy or to the mediated disorders.

Other pathologies that can be involved in myelopathy are:
• Spinal stenosis
• Discus hernia
• Spondylolistheses
• Discus bulging

Diagnostic Procedures

Imaging of the myelopathy is crucial.

Primary method:
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)^2,3,5
This can show a reduced spinal cord diameter or abnormalities in the cord and hypertension in the central cord.

Other methods:
1. Computed tomography (CT)^2,5 - You can see bony injury’s or ligamentous injury’s, when they are present
2. Myelogram²
3. Radiographs⁵ - Radiography may depict osteophytic narrowing of the spinal canal or bone destruction

Diagnosis of myelopathy depends on the neurologic localization.⁵

Outcome Measures

• Nurick classification
• The Japanese Orthopedic Asoociation scale (JOA)
• ODI
• VAS – scale

Examination

Diagnosis of myelopathy rest on demonstration of mechanical stability of the spine. We should note that MRI is considered as the golden standard to diagnose myelopathy.⁶

Physical examination results commonly in long tract signs such as spasticity, hyperreflexia and abnormal reflexes. Hoffmann, Babinski, and clunus are frequently tested reflexes⁷. Someone with myelopathy has a positive Hoffman and/or Babinski and/or clunus test. We also frequently notice progressive deterioration in their hand and gait function. So, it can be useful to examine the gait cycle of the patient with a toe-to-heel walk and the Romberg test.
Myelopathy leads to generalized weakness and intrinsic muscle wasting. That’s why it’s also important to test some muscles with tests such as the Finger escape sign or the Rapid grip and release test.⁷

The Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale can help us to assess the severity of clinical symptoms in patients with myelopathy.⁹ It consists of 6 scales (motor dysfunction in upper extremities, motor dysfunction in the lower extremities, sensory function in the upper extremities, sensory function in the trunk, sensory function in the lower extremities and bladder function) based on motor and sensory functions which are individually graded with a maximal score of 17.^7,9 We should note that there exists a modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association score used in Europe. The two scores showed a good correlation with each other in terms of their total scores and recovery rates.⁹

More specific information about physical examination for cervical myelopathy can be read on this page.

Medical Management

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Physical Therapy Management

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Key Research

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Resources

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Clinical Bottom Line

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Recent Related Research (from Pubmed)

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References

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