What are the main clinical features of Degenerative cervical myelopathy?

• Pain (affecting the neck, upper or lower limbs)
• Loss of motor function (loss of digital dexterity, arm or leg weakness/stiffness leading to impaired gait and imbalance)
• Loss of sensory function causing numbness
• Loss of autonomic function (urinary or faecal incontinence and/or impotence)
• Hoffman's sign: is a reflex test to assess for cervical myelopathy. It is performed by gently flicking one finger on a patient's hand. A positive test results in reflex twitching of the other fingers on the same hand in response to the flick.

What is the management of Degenerative cervical myelopathy?

decompressive surgery is the only effective treatment

What is the pathophysiology of Degenerative cervical myelopathy?

spinal cord dysfunction from compression in the neck

What are the main risk factors of Degenerative cervical myelopathy?

• smoking due to its effects on the intervertebral discs
• genetics
• occupation - those exposing patients to high axial loading

What is the gold standard investigation for Degenerative cervical myelopathy?

MRI C-spine