title: [Function of the long spinal cord pathways in cervical spinal stenosis--an electrophysiologic study].
abstract: Cervical spinal stenosis is radiologically defined by a reduced inner diameter (X less than 13 mm) of the cord canal and in most cases etiologically connected with spondylosis. The following study describes the results of non-invasive assessment of the long ascending and descending spinal tracts in 12 patients. The long ascending spinal tracts were examined by spinal and cortical SEP after stimulation of the tibial nerve; for the assessment of the descending spinal tracts motor responses of the tibial anterior muscle were recorded after non-invasive stimulation of the motor cortex. Clinically symptomatic patients (N = 2) exhibited clear-cut functional motor and sensory deficits of the central pathways. In asymptomatic patients (N = 10) corticomotoneuronal latencies to the lower limbs were increased in 8 cases. In comparison, increased central sensory latencies were found in 9/10. In conclusion, the studies showed that the technique of non-invasive stimulation of the motor cortex may play a role in the detection of subclinical lesions of the long descending motor tracts due to a chronic mechanical irritation.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie, Universität Münster.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Masur
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Elger
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Render
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fahrendorf
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ludolph
mesh_terms: D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; D006801:Humans; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000503:physiopathology; D009132:Muscles / Q000294:innervation*; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000503:physiopathology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology
vernacular_title: Funktion der langen Rückenmarksbahnen bei engem Zervikalkanal--eine elektrophysiologische Untersuchung.