Spinal cord conduction disorders among neurological complications of degenerative dystrophic diseases of the cervical spine
Authors:   Polenov Neurosurgical Institute — branch of the FSBI Almazov National Medical Research Center of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Oleinik Е. А. 
Published: December 2024

Neurological complications of degenerative dystrophic diseases of the cervical spine depend on the
involvement of functionally significant structures of the cervical spine in the pathological process. Current
diagnostic techniques do not always accurately diagnose the involvement of these structures in the pathological
process. This fact requires constant study and development of the novel methods for diagnosing degenerative
dystrophic diseases of the cervical spine. In this regard, the purpose of the study is to identify various clinical
and pathogenetic forms of the clinical course of degenerative dystrophic diseases of the cervical spine with the
presence of manifestations of spinal cord conduction disorders based on the study of clinical symptoms and
neuroimaging data of the cervical spine. The work is based on the study of clinical manifestations and magnetic
resonance imaging of the cervical spine in the preoperative period in 457 patients with degenerative diseases
of the cervical spine aged from 22 to 64 years. Among the patients, women predominated: 271 cases (59.3 %).
Men made up 40.7 % (186 cases). Pathology in the form of a herniated intervertebral disc was detected at
the levels of CV–CVI in 192 cases (42.0 %), CVI–CVII in 179 cases (39.2 %), CIV–CV in 45 cases (9.8 %),
and CVII — ThI in 41 cases (9.0 %). Disc herniation at two levels simultaneously was diagnosed in 6.7 % (31
cases). The complex of patient examination included general clinical, neurological, and neuroimaging studies
using MRI of the cervical spine.
Damage to one of the functionally significant anatomical structures of the cervical spine occurred in 48.4 % (221 cases). Simultaneous involvement of two or more of these structures in the pathological process was diagnosed in 51.6 % (236 cases). Comparison of the neurological symptoms of the disease with magnetic
resonance imaging data of the cervical spine makes it possible to diagnose five forms of degenerative dystrophic diseases of the cervical spine: 46.8 % — radicular, 1.5 % — myelic, 38.1 % — combined myelo-radicular, 7.5 % — combined radicular angiocerebral, and 6.1 % — combined myelo-radicular and angiocerebral.
Notably, symptoms of spinal cord conduction disorders were identified in myelic, combined myelo-radicular, and combined myelo-radicular and angiocerebral forms.
Due to the possible presence of a combination of spinal cord conduction disorders with symptoms of
compression or irritation of the spinal cord roots and vertebral artery among neurological complications,
the clinical manifestations of the disease acquire a significant polymorphism of symptoms, which is always associated with difficulties in diagnosing degenerative dystrophic diseases of the cervical spine. The identified clinical and radiological criteria for myelic, combined myelo-radicular, and combined myelo-radicular and angiocerebral forms of the course of this pathology of the cervical spine are decisive in the differential diagnosis with any other pathology of the spinal cord and for determining the feasibility of individual medical rehabilitation measures.