Long Term Follow-up of Surgical Treatment of Cervical Myelopathy

Seventy-three patients with cervical myelopathy were able to be followed directly more than 3 years up to 16 years and 9 months (mean 6 years and 8 months). There were 57 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and 16 with myelopathy due to ossified posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL).Better results were, generally, obtained at the time of follow-up (excellent+good: 77% in CSM, 69% in OPLL), compared with discharge time (69% in CSM, 62% in OPLL).However, 13 patients had worse results at the time of follow-up. Sensory disturbance increased or appeared in the upper limbs (10 cases) and in the lower limbs (9 cases). Gait disturbance increased or appeared (4 cases).The patients who had late regression showed a tendency of old age, previous history of trauma, appearance or increase of degenerative changes adjacent to the operated level and increased ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.