title: Cortical Reorganization Is Associated with Surgical Decompression of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) results in sensorimotor limb deficits, bladder, and bowel dysfunction, but mechanisms underlying motor plasticity changes before and after surgery are unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 24 patients who underwent decompression surgery and 15 healthy controls. Patients with mixed upper and lower limb dysfunction (Group A) and only lower limb dysfunction (Group B) were then analysed separately.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sum amplitude of motor evoked potentials sMEP (p < 0.01) and number of focal points where MEPs were elicited (N) (p < 0.001) were significantly larger in CSM patients compared with controls. For Group A (16 patients), sMEP (p < 0.01) and N (p < 0.001) showed similar findings. However, for Group B (8 patients), only N (p = 0.03) was significantly larger in patients than controls. Group A had significantly increased grip strength (p = 0.02) and reduced sMEP (p = 0.001) and N (p = 0.003) after surgery. Changes in sMEP (cMEP) significantly correlated inversely with improved feeding (p = 0.03) and stacking (p = 0.04) times as was the change in number of focal points (NDiff) with improved writing times (p = 0.03). Group B did not show significant reduction in sMEP or N after surgery, or significant correlation of cMEP or NDiff with all hand function tests. No significant differences in H reflex parameters obtained from the flexor carpi radialis, or central motor conduction time changes, were noted after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compensatory expansion of motor cortical representation occurs largely at cortical rather than spinal levels, with a tendency to normalization after surgery. These mirrored improvements in relevant tasks requiring utilization of intrinsic hand muscles.
authors.affiliation: Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore 169608.
authors.forename: Priscilia W T
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore 169608.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fook-Chong
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore 169608.
authors.forename: Rajendra
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tiruchelvarayan
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore 169608.
authors.forename: Chang Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore 169608.
authors.forename: Wai Mun
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore 169608.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857 ; Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore 169608.
authors.forename: Yew Long
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lo
mesh_terms: D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D017770:Lifting; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D055009:Spondylosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation