Myelographic cervical nerve root deformities.

Myelograms of nerve roots and adjacent subarachnoid space were reviewed to characterize 231 cervical root deformities from both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Good correlation between specific features of root deformities and clinical significance could not be demonstrated. Some features were slightly suggestive of clinical significance but occurred in a sufficient number of asymptomatic patients to make them unreliable. The most accurate determinants of root deformity significance are clincal and electromyographic findings.