OBJECTIVE: To identify the features of @entity309 associated with deterioration resulting in the need for surgical intervention or death. @entity1 AND METHODS: @entity1 with @entity309 who underwent cervical spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between 1991 and 1996 were identified. @entity1 requiring immediate surgical intervention were excluded. The remainder were divided into two groups. Deterioration group: @entity1 requiring surgical intervention during the follow-up period and deaths resulting from cervical @entity602 . Conservative group: all other @entity1 . Relevant clinical features and radiology reports were extracted retrospectively from the casesheet. RESULTS: The deterioration group comprised 11 @entity1 (12%), median time to deterioration 15 months (range 4-84 months). The conservative group included 82 @entity1 . Initial clinical features did not differ significantly between the two groups. Sixty per cent of those @entity1 with compression or impingement at the atlanto-axial level on first MRI deteriorated over a median of 12 months (range 4-36 months). CONCLUSION: Deterioration is likely if there is evidence of cord compromise at the atlanto-axial level on MRI regardless of initial clinical and plain X-ray features.

Factors predictive of subsequent deterioration in XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients', 'PATIENTS'] @entity602 :: ('MESH:D013118', 'Disease') :: ['myelopathy'] @entity309 :: ('MESH:D001172', 'Disease') :: ['rheumatoid cervical myelopathy', 'rheumatoid cervical spine disease']
@entity309 :: (MESH:D001172,Disease) :: ['rheumatoid cervical myelopathy']
