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Pathobiology of Cervical Radiculopathy and Myelopathy

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Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy and Radiculopathy

Abstract

Symptomatic cervical spine pathology commonly presents with findings of radiculopathy and/or myelopathy. The underlying pathobiologic mechanism for radiculopathy and myelopathy is often multifactorial. Radiculopathy is the motor and/or sensory manifestation of neurologic dysfunction in the distribution of a given cervical nerve root. This can be due to static mechanical or dynamic compression of the nerve or secondary to biochemical factors. There are characteristic clinical symptoms and exam findings in cervical radiculopathy that correspond to specific cervical nerve roots. Myelopathy is the involvement of upper motor neuron and sensory impairment and can include long ascending and descending spinal tracts as well as multiple spinal root levels. Myelopathy can also be secondary to static mechanical or dynamic compression of the nerve. Additionally, vascular ischemia and stretch and shear forces have been implicated in myelopathy. The characteristic clinical presentation is often defined by loss of coordination, sensory dysfunction, hyperreflexia, and in severe cases weakness and bowel or bladder incontinence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Cory J. Hartman & Daniel J. Hoh

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  1. Cory J. Hartman
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Correspondence to Daniel J. Hoh .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA

    Michael G. Kaiser

  2. Atlanta Brain and Spine Care, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Regis W. Haid

  3. Duke University Health System, Durham, NC, USA

    Christopher I. Shaffrey

  4. Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Michael G. Fehlings

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Hartman, C.J., Hoh, D.J. (2019). Pathobiology of Cervical Radiculopathy and Myelopathy. In: Kaiser, M., Haid, R., Shaffrey, C., Fehlings, M. (eds) Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy and Radiculopathy . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97952-6_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97952-6_5

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