clinical features
Last reviewed 01/2018
The clinical triad of spondylotic cervical myelopathy is:
- neck pain and stiffness:
- due to the degenerative joint disease
- arm pain, numbness and weakness:
- due to root damage by osteophytes or prolapsing disc
- symptoms may occur on neck movement
- tendon jerk may be depressed
- wasting may be marked
- spastic legs:
- due to spinal cord damage
- weakness is often less marked
- reflexes are brisk and the plantar response is extensor
- there may be sensory changes, sensory ataxia and sphincter involvement