Considerations for prophylactic surgery in asymptomatic severe cervical stenosis: review article.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a devastating pathology that can severely impair quality of life. The symptoms in CSM progress slowly and often do not manifest until they become severe and potentially irreversible. There is a consensus that surgical intervention is warranted in symptomatic patients. The recovery of the neurologic deficit after surgical decompression of the spinal cord varies, and halting the progression of the disease remains the principle aim of surgery.

Questions/purposes

The aim of this review is to address the key question of whether or not to intervene in cases that have radiographic evidence of significant cervical stenosis yet are asymptomatic or exhibit minimal symptoms?

Methods

The PubMed databases for publications that ad

SUBMITTER: Sheikh Taha AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4342391 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature