BACKGROUNDCervical intervertebral disc herniation can lead to myelopathy. Aging is an established variable related to spondylotic myelopathy. Studying this association will help in controlling the increase in spondylotic myelopathy with age.OBJECTIVESTo study the association between cervical disc level, its direction, and the frequency of myelopathy with age, and to assess the epidemiology of age-related cervical disc herniation and myelopathy.DESIGNRetrospective review of magnetic resonance (MR) images.SETTINGTertiary referral hospital.PATIENTS AND METHODSWe studied the MR images of adults patients (>18 years of age) referred to our department between 2001 and 2012 for suspected cervical spondylopathy. The direction and severity of herniation and the presence of myelopathy was determined for spinal levels C2 to C7.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)Relationship between age-related cervical disc herniation and myelopathy.RESULTSWe studied 6584 patient MR images, which included 2402 males (39.1%) and 3737 females (60.9%). The frequency of myelopathy increased with age from 0.6% in patients <20 years of age, reaching 9.1% in patients >70 years of age. The most common level affected by myelopathy was C5–C6. In elderly patients (>60 years), the C3–C4 level became the predominant level affected by myelopathy. Likewise, the frequency of central disc herniation increased significantly (P<.001) with age at all cervical levels. Furthermore, upper cervical levels showed a higher frequency of central disc herniation than lower cervical levels in the elderly.CONCLUSIONThe increased frequency of central disc herniation with age suggest an important, and probably a cause-effect relationship, between herniation and myelopathy.LIMITATIONSWe were unable to access clinical data or electrophysiological studies to correlate with MR image findings.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.