Dynamic cervical myelopathy in young adults.

Abstract

Non-traumatic cervical chronic joint instability in young adults is a rare and underexplored entity. We assessed the diagnostic relevance of dynamic MRI, and the clinical and radiological outcome after anterior cervical interbody fusion (ACIF) in these cases. Six young patients (mean age 34 years) with cervical myelopathy without compression on static imaging had a dynamic MRI. Joint instability was defined by a reduction of the canal diameter on dynamic sequences. Clinical and radiological outcomes were assessed after surgery by examination, cervical X-rays, static and dynamic MRI. All the patients had joint instability. Four patients underwent surgery. Clinical status improved 1 year after surgery. All patients had a satisfactory fusion at 6-month follow-up and no residual compression at 1 year. Dynamic MRI can help detect a joint instability in young patients with cervical myelopathy without compression. ACIF seems to be efficient in these cases.