CERVICAL MYELOPATHY

Course overview

CERVICAL MYELOPATHY IS A CONDITION DESCRIBING A COMPRESSION OF THE SPINAL CORD AT THE CERVICAL LEVEL OF THE SPINAL COLUMN RESULTING IN SPASTICITY (SUSTAINED MUSCLE CONTRACTIONS), HYPERREFLEXIA, PATHOLOGIC REFLEXES, DIGIT/HAND CLUMSINESS, AND/OR GAIT DISTURBANCE. CLASSICALLY IT HAS AN INSIDIOUS ONSET PROGRESSING IN A STEPWISE MANNER WITH FUNCTIONAL DECLINE. WITHOUT TREATMENT, PATIENTS MAY PROGRESS TOWARD SIGNIFICANT PARALYSIS AND LOSS OF FUNCTION. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE ETIOLOGY, PRESENTATION, EVALUATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF CERVICAL MYELOPATHY AND REVIEWS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN EVALUATING, DIAGNOSING, AND MANAGING THE CONDITION.