Abstract: Currently the global population is experiencing a shift in age structure with proportion of population over 60 years increasing and also with change in lifestyle the number of degenerative myelopathy cases is ever increasing. Cervical degenerative myelopathy is a progressive disabling disorder compelling the patient to be bedridden. It generally requires surgical intervention owing to its progressive nature. The primary goal of surgery is to decompress the spinal cord. This study is an effort to evaluate functional outcome following surgical decompression and factors affecting it.
Materials and Methods: 14 patients who presented with cervical degenerative myelopathy were included in the study that underwent decompressive surgery from June 2017 to December 2018. Each patient was graded according to Nurick grade. Pre and postoperative Nurick grade was compared along with age and duration of symptoms. Patients with associated orthopaedic comorbidities were excluded. The associated complications were recorded.
Results: Out of 14 cases, 11 cases was subjected to posterior decompressive surgery, ant. Dissectomy and fusion was done in 2 cases and ant. Corpectomy and fusion was done in 1 case according to definite indications. Preoperatively patients had a mean Nurick grade of 3.43 which was reduced to 1.86 postoperatively at 6 months (p< 0.05). Neurological recovery was seen in 93% of cases but the grade of improvement was dependent on age of the patient and duration of symptoms.
Conclusion: Surgical decompression is a rewarding procedure for compressive degenerative myelopathy with functional improvement in most patients. However the age and duration of the disease affects the functional outcome of the patient. We recommends that patients with compressive cervical myelopathy undergo surgical intervention as early as possible.
