title: Transcranial magnetic stimulation but not MRI predicts long-term clinical status in cervical spondylosis: a case series.
abstract: METHODS
  Case series.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings between patients who underwent surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy and those with spondylosis who were not operated upon, and to correlate these findings with clinical functionality at follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Private practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 16 consecutive patients with cervical spondylosis 8 underwent surgery (group I) and 8 were treated conservatively (group II). We compared TMS and MRI findings between these groups and we correlated central motor conduction times (CMCTs) and MRI-measured sagittal and parasagittal diameters of the spinal canal at baseline evaluation, with clinical functionality at 2-year follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group I CMCTs at the lower limbs correlated significantly with modified-JoA 2 years post surgery (r=-0.71, P<0.05), but MRI-measured diameters did not. In group II baseline TMS was unrevealing, contrary to significant spinal stenosis disclosed by MRI. The condition of none of these patients deteriorated at 2 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CMCTs at the lower limbs, but not cervical spinal canal diameters, correlate with long-term functional outcome following surgical or conservative treatment.
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Deftereos
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kechagias
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ioakeimidou
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Georgonikou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D055009:Spondylosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome