title: Risk factors for development of myelopathy in patients with cervical spondylotic cord compression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clarify risk factors for the development of myelopathy in patients with cervical spondylotic cord compression.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors reviewed articles in which risk factors for the development of myelopathy in patients with cervical spondylotic cord compression were discussed. Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) was also reviewed as a disease which causes cervical cord compression to clarify pathomechanism of the development of myelopathy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cervical motion segment disorders are considered to be multifactorial, and developmental size of the canal and foramina, pathological encroachment, biomechanical effects, and circulatory deficiencies are always present to some degree. Static and dynamic factors should be considered for the development of myelopathy. To clarify the pathomechanism of the development of myelopathy in patients with cervical spondylotic spinal cord compression, the exact natural history of CSM should be understood.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several predictable risk factors for the development of myelopathy have been proposed in CSM or OPLL studies, but they were not definitive. Further prospective population-based study is needed to clarify the mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Imakiire General Hospital, 4-16 Shimotatsuo chou, Kagoshima, 892-8502, Japan, shunji@imakiire.or.jp.
authors.forename: Shunji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
authors.forename: Setsuro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Komiya
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Toyama
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017887:Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D055009:Spondylosis / Q000150:complications*; D013997:Time Factors