Introduction: Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is a cervical cord compressive lesion that occurs
as a result of the normal degenerative process which may cause magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) cord intensity changes that may worsen the clinical outcome even after
successful anterior cervical decompression. Objective: To assess the relation between MRI T2 Weighted images (T2 WI) hyperintense cord signal
and clinical outcome after anterior cervical discectomy in patients with degenerative
cervical disc herniation. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective observational study that was conducted on twenty-five patients
with degenerative cervical disc prolapse associated with MRI T2WI hyperintense cord
signal, at the Department of Neurosurgery, Qena University Hospital, South Valley
University from August 2014 to December 2016. A complete clinical and radiological
evaluation of the patients was done. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion was done
for all patients. Patients were clinically assessed preoperatively and postoperatively
at 3, 6, and 12 months using Modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (MJOA) score.
Radiographic assessment was done by preoperative and postoperative T2WI MRI. The statistical
analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software
(version 22.0). Results: There were 25 patients included in the study; 16 (64%) females and 9 (36%) males.
The mean age was 46.89 ± 7.52 standard deviation (SD) years with range from 26 to
64 years, 3 (12%) patients had worsened in the form of postoperative motor power deterioration,
and 14 (56%) patients has no improvement and remain as preoperative condition. The
remaining 8 (32%) patients had a reported postoperative improvement of symptoms and
signs according to MJOA score. The mean follow-up period (in months) was 11 ± 2.34
(SD). Conclusion: The presence of T2W hyperintense signal on preoperative MRI predicts a poor surgical
outcome in patients with cervical disc prolapse. The regression of T2W ISI postoperatively
correlates with better functional outcomes.
Key-words:
Anterior cervical discectomy - cervical spondylotic myelopathy - compressive myelopathy
- T2 hyperintense signal - clinical outcome