Cervical spondylotic myelopathy: surgical results and factors affecting outcome with special reference to age differences.
OBJECTIVE
A variety of factors may affect the surgical outcome in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. The aim of this study is to analyze the prognostic factors by comparing younger and elderly patient groups on the basis of preoperative radiological and clinical data.


METHODS
To assess the prognostic factors after surgery had been performed, the clinical and radiological data of 64 patients who underwent expansive laminoplasty were reviewed. Patients were classified into two groups, a younger patient group (<65 yr of age; n = 29) and an elderly patient group (>/=65 yr of age; n = 35). The neurological status of the patients was assessed by use of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale. Radiological features were examined with computed tomographic myelography and magnetic resonance imaging. The effects of the clinical and radiological findings on neurological outcome were investigated.


RESULTS
The preoperative and postoperative mean Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores in elderly patients were significantly lower than those in younger patients. For elderly patients, the transverse area of the spinal cord at the level of maximum compression and symptom duration were the factors that predicted an excellent recovery. In contrast, the transverse area was the only predictor of excellent recovery in younger patients. Age, preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association score, canal diameter, and an intensity change on the spinal cord were not predictive in either age range.


CONCLUSIONS
The transverse area of the spinal cord may be a reliable predictor of excellent recovery in both younger and elderly patient groups. Shorter symptom duration was an important factor in the excellent recovery of elderly patients.
Yamazaki
Tomosato
T
Department of Neurosurgery, Kennan Hospital, Tsuchiura, Ibaraki, Japan.
Yanaka
Kiyoyuki
K
Sato
Hiroaki
H
Uemura
Kazuya
K
Tsukada
Atsuro
A
Nose
Tadao
T
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011379:Prognosis; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome