How to Say It: SIR-veh-cal My-eh-LOP-ah-thee
Cervical myelopathy is damage to the part of the spinal cord that is in the neck. The cervical spine begins at the base of the skull. It extends to the first seven vertebrae.
Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.
This problem may be caused by:
Things that may raise the risk of this problem are:
Problems may be:
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. It will focus on any muscle weakness. A neurological exam may also be done.
Images may be taken of the spine. This can be done with:
Other tests may be:
The cause will need to be treated. Symptoms may be managed with:
Some people may need surgery to ease pressure on the spinal cord. Choices are:
Screws and a plate prevent the vertebrae from putting pressure on the spinal cord.
Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.
There are no known guidelines to prevent this health problem.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
http://www.ninds.nih.gov
United Spinal Association
http://www.spinalcord.org
Canadian/American Spinal Research Organizations
http://www.csro.com
Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca
Altaf F, Heran MK, et al. Back pain in children and adolescents. Bone Joint J. 2014 Jun;96-B(6):717-723.
Cervical myelopathy. Johns Hopkins Medicine website. Available at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/adult/orthopaedic_disorders/CervicalMyelopathy_22,CervicalMyelopathy. Accessed January 26, 2021.
Lumbar spondylolysis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/lumbar-spondylolysis. Accessed January 26, 2021.
Older adult falls. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/index.html. Accessed January 26, 2021.
Last reviewed December 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Rimas Lukas, MD Last Updated: 1/26/2021
EBSCO Information Services is fully accredited by URAC. URAC is an independent, nonprofit health care accrediting organization dedicated to promoting health care quality through accreditation, certification and commendation.
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
To send comments or feedback to our Editorial Team regarding the content please email us at healthlibrarysupport@ebsco.com. Our Health Library Support team will respond to your email request within 2 business days.