title: Anterior cervical approach for the treatment of cervical myelopathy.
abstract: Compression of the spinal cord by the degenerating cervical spine tends to lead to progressive clinical symptoms over a variable period of time. Surgical decompression can stop this process and lead to recovery of function. The choice of surgical technique depends on what is causing the compression of the spinal cord. This article reviews the symptoms and assessment for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (clinically evident compression of the spinal cord) and discusses the indications for decompression of the spinal cord anteriorly.
authors.affiliation: Neurological Spinal Surgery, Division of Neurological Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294-3410, USA.
authors.forename: Paul G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Matz
authors.forename: Patrick R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Pritchard
authors.forename: Mark N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Hadley
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000150:complications; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*