The epidemiology of cervical spondylotic myelopathy

Skeletal Radiol. 2012 Dec;41(12):1543-6. doi: 10.1007/s00256-012-1388-3. Epub 2012 Mar 17.

Abstract

Objectives: This is an observational study looking at the epidemiology of cervical spondylotic myelopathy of patients presenting to our hospital.

Materials and methods: The notes and MRI scans of 41 patients presenting to the Leicester General Hospital with a clinical diagnosis of cervical myelopathy between January 2004 and December 2008 were reviewed retrospectively.

Results: Cervical myelopathy was found to be more common in male patients to the ratio of approximately 2.7:1, with an average age at diagnosis of 63.8 years. Multi-level disease was seen in the majority of patients, with C5/6 being the most commonly affected level.

Conclusions: Cervical myelopathy predominantly affects men in their 7th decade of life. It is often a multi-level disease with C5/6 being the most commonly affected. It has little in common with cervical radiculopathy and is more analogous to lumber spinal stenosis.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / statistics & numerical data*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy / epidemiology*
  • Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy / pathology*
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Distribution
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology