TOTBİD Dergisi

TOTBİD Dergisi

2017, Cilt 16, Sayı, 4     (Sayfalar: 298-303)

Differential diagnosis of cervical myelopathy and radiculopathy

Sinan Karaca 1, Ahmet Öztermeli 1

1 Fatih Sultan Mehmet Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Ortopedi ve Travmatoloji Kliniği, İstanbul

DOI: 10.14292/totbid.dergisi.2017.41
Görüntüleme: 779
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İndirme : 2619

Neck and lower back pain are the most common among orthopedic outpatient clinic applications. There are many causes of neck, shoulder and arm pain; that`s why a patient could frequently get multiple diagnoses. Appropriate anamnesis and careful physical examination are necessary for a precise diagnosis. Mechanical stimulation could cause myelopathic symptoms unless the spine maintains its normal function. Although the clinical problem is in the upper extremity in cervical myelopathy, appropriate lower extremity examination focused on hyperreflexia and spasticity is necessary. When the patient walks, unbalanced spastic gait and myelopathic long-stride can be observed. Myeloradiculopathy is a clinical situation that can cause both lower and upper motor neuron symptoms. There is a mixed clinical picture of weakness, pain, and spasticity. Lower motor neuron symptoms like weakness are seen in the upper extremity and caused by upper cervical region stenosis. Upper motor neuron symptoms like spasticity and incoordination are usually related to stenosis of the lower cervical region. The aim of this study is to review systematically the diagnosis of the cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy.

Anahtar Kelimeler : cervical myelopathy; radiculopathy; differential diagnosis