Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. 2026 Jul 1;36(1):267. doi: 10.1007/s00590-026-04832-9.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate surgical outcomes in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) with intramedullary signal changes (IMSCs) and assess the impact of preoperative severity on recovery.
METHODS: This retrospective study included 312 patients undergoing cervical decompression. Neurological status was assessed using the mJOA score preoperatively and at 6-12 months. A subset of 43 patients was analyzed separately for inferential statistics using chi-square testing.
RESULTS: Severe CSM was present in 54.2% and moderate in 45.8%. Overall improvement occurred in 53.2%, with a mean mJOA increase of 2.9 points. In the subset, mean mJOA improved from 10.25 (SD 1.80) to 13.16 (SD 2.43). A significant association was found between preoperative severity and outcome (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Surgical decompression leads to meaningful neurological improvement, with outcomes influenced by preoperative severity.
PMID:42384242 | DOI:10.1007/s00590-026-04832-9
