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Once the spinal injury has occurred, one of two things may happen. Firstly, hemorrhaging within the spinal cord may cause compression, which damages the spinal cord even further. Another consequence of myelomalacia is improper circulation of blood to the area damaged, resulting in further damage to the spinal cord. [citation needed]
Myelopathy describes any neurologic deficit related to the spinal cord. [1] The most common form of myelopathy in humans, cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), [2] [3] also called degenerative cervical myelopathy, [4] results from narrowing of the spinal canal (spinal stenosis) ultimately causing compression of the spinal cord. [5]
Cervical spinal nerves C1, C2 and C3 help control the movements of the head and neck. Cervical spinal nerve C4 helps control upward shoulder movements. Cervical spinal nerve C3, C4 and C5 help power the diaphragm and aid in breathing. Cervical spinal nerve C6 helps in wrist extension and some functioning of biceps.
Such severe spinal stenosis symptoms are virtually absent in lumbar stenosis, however, as the spinal cord terminates at the top end of the adult lumbar spine, with only nerve roots (cauda equina) continuing further down. [15] Cervical spinal stenosis is a condition involving narrowing of the spinal canal at the level of the neck.
Spinal arthritis [11] – most commonly osteoarthritis – is the inflammation of superior and inferior facet joints within the spine. This leads to the formation of Osteophytes [11] which grow around the joints. This contributes to narrowing the spinal canal and compressing the spinal cord in the corresponding region.
Additionally, the body can react to the closing gap between vertebrae by creating bone spurs around the disc space in an attempt to stop excess motion. [8] This can cause issues if the bone spurs start to grow into the spinal canal and put pressure on the spinal cord and surrounding nerve roots as it can cause pain and affect nerve function.
Cervical spinal stenosis is one of the most common forms of spinal stenosis, along with lumbar spinal stenosis (which occurs at the level of the lower back instead of the neck). Thoracic spinal stenosis, at the level of the mid-back, is much less common. [2] Cervical spinal stenosis can be far more dangerous by compressing the spinal cord.
Spinal cord compression is a form of myelopathy in which the spinal cord is compressed. Causes can be bone fragments from a vertebral fracture, a tumor , abscess , ruptured intervertebral disc or other lesion.