degenerative cervical myelopathy

Question 1

symptoms of degenerative cervical myelopathy

Answer 1

pain (affecting neck, upper and lower limbs)
loss of motor function
loss of sensory function causing numbness
loss of autonomic function (urinary or faecal incontinence)
hoffman’s sign: flicking one finger on patients hand and causing other fingers to twitch

Question 2

investigation for cervical myelopathy

Answer 2

MRI of cervical spine
- shows: disc degeneration and ligament hypertrophy + cord signal change

Question 3

management of degenerative cervical myelopathy

Answer 3

urgent review by specialist spinal services
early surgery