Posterior surgical treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy: review article.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cervical spondylosis is now recognised as the leading cause of myelopathy and spinal cord dysfunction worldwide. Chronic spinal cord compression results in chronic inflammation, cellular apoptosis, and microvacular insufficiency, which are thought to the biologic basis for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).

Questions/purposes

Our purpose was to address the key principles of CSM, including natural history and presentation, pathogenesis, optimal surgical approach, results and complication rates of posterior surgical approaches for CSM so that the rationale for addressing CSM by a posterior approach can be fully understood.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE and the Cochrane Collaboration Library for literature published through Feb

SUBMITTER: Kiely PD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4342399 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature