constricted vertebral canal of the cervical spine
Unlike the previously mentioned constriction of a nerve root through a herniated disc in the neck, a cervical myelopathy involves a compression of the spinal cord itself. The constriction of the cervical spine’s vertebral canal that the cervical myelopathy brings about is mainly caused by adsorptions of bone parts and ossified intervertebral disc parts (Figure 1). The bulging on the edges can lead to a significant constriction of the spinal cord. The leading symptoms of cervical myelopathy are the advancing difficulties in walking, disruption of the fine motor skills (such as writing and precision activities with the hand), bladder problems and eventually advanced paralysis.
Surgery for cervical myelopathy generally also involves a small skin incision from the front of the kind shown in the previous section. The intervertebral discs and the adsorptions are removed under the microscope here too so that the spinal cord can then be relieved. The most advanced degenerative alterations mostly involve a stiffening of the vertebral body. The operation to relieve the cervical spine’s spinal cord is even performed for elderly patients, as this can also significantly reduce the risk of falling as a result of the unsteadiness in walking (caused by the compression of the spinal cord).
Fig. 1: Cervicale Myelopathie
herniated disc of the cervical spine
constricted vertebral canal of the cervical spine