The primary cause of cervical spondylotic myelopathy and spinal cord compression stems from the natural aging process that leads to arthritis. The result is cervical disc degeneration that can result in bone spurs, enlargement of the facet joints in the spine, degeneration of the cervical discs and/or thickening of the ligaments. Each of these can contribute to the narrowing or compression of the spinal cord. In additional, patients born with a narrow spinal canal (congenital stenosis) may be at increased risk of cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

The symptoms of cervical spondylotic myelopathy can be subtle, with patients not noticing the problems at first. Over time, symptoms can include:

• Clumsiness in the arms, hands or fingers
• Loss of dexterity
• Pain or stiffness in the neck
• Tingling, numbness or weakness
• Imbalance or other coordination issues, such as having trouble walking
• Bowel or bladder incontinence

In general, patients with signs and symptoms of cervical myelopathy require evaluation by a spine surgeon. In many instances, patients will be considered for surgical intervention to relieve the pressure on the spinal cord.