Cord shape and measurements in cervical spondylotic myelopathy and radiculopathy.

A combined clinical myelographic and computed myelographic study was performed in 30 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy; computed myelography was also performed in 16 control patients. Good correlation was found between degree of deformity of cross-sectional shapes of the cord and the outcome of surgery, and measurements of anteroposterior diameter and area of the cord seemed helpful in this preliminary study. There was also reasonably good correlation between the clinical features when grouped according to specific tract involvement, and the pattern of deformity shown by the abnormal cross-sectional cord shapes.