Cervical refers to the neck while myelopathy is a disorder of the spinal cord. Thus, cervical myelopathy is a spinal cord compression in the neck. Myelopathy can cause the following symptoms: Neck pain or stiffness, tingling, weakness, or numbness in arms, fingers, hands, Balance issues that could affect walking, and trouble with fine motor skills such as buttoning buttons.
Here is a 64 y/o male who fell at home with resulting severe hand weakness and numbness due to cervical stenosis or narrowing of the spinal canal. The fall caused an injury to his spinal cord called myelopathy or a central cord syndrome. Central cord syndrome is a severe condition and can often result in permanent neurologic injury. Surgery (cervical laminectomy and fusion) was performed to relieve the pressure on the patient’s spinal cord and stabilize the spine. This patient responded very well to the surgery. In the days after surgery, he noted that his hands were stronger. By 6 weeks following surgery, he had recovered all of the normal function in his hands and arms.
