一期前后路联合治疗多节段脊髓型颈椎病

目的：分析一期前后路联合治疗多节段脊髓型颈椎病的效果。方法：对于56例多节段脊髓型颈椎病患者，先行后路椎板切除后行前路减压植骨融合内固定术，随访6个月～3年（平均16个月）。结果：术后未发生明显脊髓损伤加重表现，无切口感染，术前平均JOA评分为5～13分，平均9．7分，术后JOA评分增加至9～16分，平均为14．65分。改善率68．5％。优良率达67．9％。结论：一期前后路治疗脊髓型颈椎病减压彻底，效果良好。     

Changes of cervical spinal cord and cervical spinal canal with age in asymptomatic subjects

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and radiographic findings of the cervical spine. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the age-related changes of the cervical spinal cord and the cervical spinal canal and the relationship between the spinal cord and the spinal canal in asymptomatic subjects using MRI and radiography. SETTING: Tokyo, Japan. METHODS: The transverse area of the cervical spinal cord and the ratio of the anteroposterior diameter to the transverse diameter (RAPT) were investigated, using MRI in 229 asymptomatic subjects. The sagittal spinal canal diameter and anteroposterior diameter of the cervical vertebral body were also measured on plain lateral radiographs. The canal body ratio (CBR), which was defined as the diameter of the spinal canal divided by that of the vertebral body, was calculated. RESULTS: The transverse spinal cord area correlated negatively with age. RAPT did not correlate with age. The CBR correlated negatively with age. The correlation between spinal cord area and CBR was significant but weak and the correlation between RAPT and CBR was not significant. CONCLUSION: The transverse area of the cervical spinal cord measured by MRI decreased with age, while RAPT remained unchanged. The bony spinal canal became narrower with age. The spinal cord area and the shapes of the spinal cord were independent from the spinal canal diameter in asymptomatic subjects. These facts should be considered when evaluating radiological findings in patients with cervical spinal disorders.     

经后路保留胸椎后柱结构椎体次全切术治疗胸椎爆裂骨折及胸椎Kümmell病伴脊髓损伤的疗效观察

目的 探讨经后路保留胸椎后柱结构椎体次全切术治疗胸椎爆裂骨折及胸椎Kümmell病伴脊髓损伤的临床疗效.方法 回顾性分析自2013-08-2017-08采用经后路保留胸椎后柱结构椎体次全切术治疗的19例胸椎爆裂骨折及胸椎Kümmell病伴脊髓损伤,比较术前与术后6个月胸椎管前后径比值、横断面积比值、JOA评分以及ASI...     

A correlation between magnetic resonance imaging and electrophysiological findings in cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

STUDY DESIGN: Correlation between compressed spinal cords on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electrophysiological findings in cervical spondylotic myelopathy patients. OBJECTIVE: To clarify the correlation between spinal-cord-evoked potentials and MRI measurements of compressed spinal cords in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Compression of the spinal cord does not always cause clinical symptoms and it is difficult to infer the degree of dysfunction of the spinal cord from MRI findings. METHODS: Seventeen patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy were examined with MRI and spinal-cord-evoked potentials before surgery. Using abnormality in spinal-cord-evoked potentials as indicators of spinal cord morphology, spinal-cord transverse area and compression ratios (central and 1/4-lateral) were measured on T1-weighted axial imaging. The correlations between these dimensions and electrophysiological findings were investigated. RESULTS: The mean preoperative transverse area of the spinal cord was 47.13 mm2.The mean preoperative central compression ratio of the spinal cord was 34.4%. The mean preoperative 1/4-lateral compression ratio of the spinal cord was 27.5%. A correlation (Spearman r=0.65, P < 0.01) was observed between the 1/4-lateral compression ratio of the spinal cord and the amplitude ratio of spinal-cord-evoked potentials after electric stimulation of the brain (Br(E)-SCEPs). CONCLUSIONS: The preoperative 1/4-lateral compression ratio of the spinal cord was found to reflect the degree of dysfunction of the corticospinal tracts.     

颈椎动力位MRI在脊髓型颈椎病诊治中的作用

目的探讨颈椎动力位MRI在脊髓型颈椎病诊治中的作用。方法分别测量42例患者共59节病变节段在颈椎过屈、中立、过伸位时的硬膜囊中矢径与脊髓中矢径,对比两者在不同体位下的变化。结果 59节病变节段,在过屈、中立、过伸位时,测出平均硬膜囊中矢径分别是:(7.63±0.90)mm,(6.48±0.82)mm,(5.85±0.89)mm;平均脊髓中矢径分别是:(6.44±0.80)mm,(5.81±0.82)mm,(5.56±0.82)mm。在过伸位时,硬膜囊中矢径与脊髓中矢径之间差值最小(0.29±0.60)mm(P0.01),脊髓代偿空间最小。结论在脊髓型患者中,颈椎病动力位MRI可以显示脊髓在不同体位下动态受压变化,对其治疗方式的选择有极大帮助。     

后路选择性扩大减压、侧块螺钉内固定治疗伴有曲度后凸的多节段颈椎病

 目的 探讨后路选择性扩大减压、侧块螺钉内固定治疗伴有曲度后凸的多节段颈椎病的疗效及并发症预防。方法 2008年1月至2011年1月,采用颈椎后路手术治疗的患者43例,年龄42～74岁,平均59.6岁。手术前后采用日本骨科协会评分(Japanese Orthopaedic Association Scores,JOA)判定神经功能,颈椎功能残障指数量表(neck disability index,NDI)评价颈肩轴性痛程度,Ishihara法测定颈椎曲率指数(cervical curvature index, CI),在MRI上测量脊髓扩大和后移程度。结果 43例患者手术平均减压(3.91±0.86)个节段(3～5个节段)。全部病例平均随访38个月(20～60个月)。术后3～6个月复查时颈椎植骨完全融合。术后JOA评分为(14.31±1.33)分,较术前(8.16±1.11)分有明显改善,临床效果优良率为95.34%。术后CI为15.30%±3.18%,较术前7.36%±9.69%有明显改善。术后颈椎中立位MRI显示最狭窄处硬膜囊前后径为(6.10±0.89) mm较术前(2.92±1.49) mm明显增加,较术前增加了108.9%。颈脊髓平均向后漂移(4.59±1.20) mm(2.97～6.68 mm)。术后NDI评分为(4.90±2.46)分,较术前(19.36±8.61)分有明显改善。随访期间均未出现C5神经根麻痹,无内固定松动、脱出、断裂等并发症发生。结论 后路选择性扩大减压、侧块螺钉内固定术治疗伴有曲度后凸的多节段颈椎病,能有效地改善神经功能,恢复和维持颈椎正常曲度,降低轴性症状和C5神经根麻痹发生率。     

Laminoplasty versus subtotal corpectomy. A comparative study of results in multisegmental cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

A comparative study of surgical results was used to determine the treatment of choice for multisegmental cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Forty-one patients who received subtotal corpectomy and strut grafting (SCS) and forty-two undergoing laminoplasty were followed up for at least 2 years after surgery. Regarding factors known to affect surgical prognosis (age at surgery, duration of symptoms, severity of neurologic deficit, anteroposterior canal diameter, transverse area of the cord at the site of maximum compression, number of levels involved), the two groups were statistically comparable with each other. The severity of neurologic deficits was assessed by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale. Results were evaluated in terms of postoperative score and recovery rate. The difference between the recovery rate and final score between the two groups was not statistically significant. Surgical complications were more frequent in the subtotal corpectomy and strut grafting group than in the laminoplasty group. The most frequent complications encountered in the subtotal corpectomy and strut grafting group were related to bone grafting. Spinal alignment worsened in six patients of the laminoplasty group, but none of them suffered from neurologic deterioration. Another disadvantage of subtotal corpectomy and strut grafting was the longer postoperative period of bed rest needed to secure graft stability. We conclude that laminoplasty should be the treatment of choice for multisegmental cervical spondylotic myelopathy when neurologic results, incidence of complications, and postoperative treatment are taken into consideration.     

Morphological changes of the cervical spinal canal and cord due to aging

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is a condition in which degenerative changes of the cervical vertebral bodies and the intervertebral discs cause disturbances to the spinal cord either by direct mechanical compression or by disturbing the blood supply. There have been a number of studies on roentgenological measurements of the anteroposterior (AP) diameter of the cervical spinal canal relating to the disorder. However, there are only a few reports concerning the shape and the size of the spinal canal and the spinal cord. Murone reported that the cervical spinal canal of Japanese was significantly smaller than those of Europeans on roentgenograms. However, whether the size of the spinal cord of Japanese is proportionally smaller or not remains to be studied. The aim of the present study is to perform various measurements of the human cervical spine specimens to find any influence of the age on them and to see relative correlation of the spinal cord size to the corresponding spinal canal size. Methods: Seventy-seven human cervical spinal columns taken én bloc from C3 to C7 at post-mortem examination were used for the study. After taking AP and lateral roentgenograms, the specimen was horizontally transsected at the middle of each vertebral body and at the level of each intervertebral disc. The reason why the middle of the vertebral body was selected is to exclude modifications by osteophyte formation at the upper and the lower ends of the body and to see possible genuine appearance and change of the spinal canal. The measured items were AP diameter of the vertebral body (A), AP diameter of the spinal canal (B), area of the spinal canal (C), AP diameter of the spinal cord (beta) and area of the spinal cord (gamma). In five untreated specimens, CT-scan was performed prior to the horizontal section, and the CT-scan findings were compared to those by direct measurements. Lateral cervical roentgenograms of 249 patients of various ages were used as a comparison. Results: The AP diameter of the vertebral body (A) and the AP diameter of the spinal canal (B) showed some correlation with the age. The former became larger whereas the latter became smaller with the age. The area of the spinal canal (C) did not show correlation with the age. The AP diameter of the spinal cord (beta) showed correlation with the age, whereas the area of the spinal cord (gamma) failed to show the correlation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the spinal cord in cervical spondylotic myelopathy

Principles of echo shifting with a train of observations was used to perform magnetic susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging with bolus-tracking in 14 patients with spondylotic myelopathy to assess changes in perfusion parameters of the spinal cord before and after decompression surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy. The mean transit time (MTT), bolus arrival time (T0), and time to peak (TTP) were obtained from regions of interest (ROIs) and assessed as the ratio between the spinal cord and the pons (MTT index = MTT(ROI)/MTT(pons), T0 index = T0(ROI)/T0(pons), TTP index = TTP(ROI)/TTP(pons)). The patients were divided into two groups according to percentage improvement on the Neurosurgical Cervical Spine Scale. The MTT index in patients with good recovery (> or =50%) was significantly reduced. The T0 index and TTP index showed no significant change in both groups. Reduction of MTT index may indicate improved perfusion of the spinal cord following surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy.     

A clinical study on the shape of the spinal cord in cervical spondylotic myelopathy based on CT-myelography

A clinical study of computed tomographic myelography with metrizamide was performed in 35 patients operated for cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Sagittal diameter of the cord was measured at vertebral and intervertebral levels. The deformity of the cord was classified into four categories. The correlation between these factors and clinical symptoms and surgical results were examined. Results: The sagittal diameter of the cord at the most severely affected level was less than 5 mm. There was a good correlation between the degree of cord deformity and the severity of symptoms. The spinal cord with canal stenosis demonstrated severe deformity at multiple levels. Enlargement of the cord was seen with recovery of symptoms after surgery. The shape of the cord provides information on severity and viability of cord damage and, therefore, appears to be useful not only for diagnosis of the lesion but also for selection of the operative treatment.     

颈椎脊髓脑脊液柱椎管面积的MRI测量及其意义

目的探讨颈椎脊髓、脑脊液柱、椎管MR I横断面面积的相互比值与脊髓型颈椎病发病的关系。方法于颈椎MR I T2轴位像测量70例脊髓型颈椎病(CSM)患者及80例正常成人的脊髓横断面、脑脊液柱、椎管面积,每例共测量C4、C5、C6、C74个节段。每节段于椎体后高中点处、与脊髓纵轴垂直、终板平行作扫描,分别计算各节段脊髓/脑脊液柱、脊髓/椎管、脑脊液柱/椎管面积的比值。结果脊髓/椎管面积比值,CSM组4个节段均明显高于正常成人组;脊髓/脑脊液柱面积比值,CSM组C4、C5节段明显高于正常成人组;脑脊液柱/椎管面积比值于两组中无显著差异。结论椎体后高中点水平脊髓横断面面积与相应水平椎管横断面面积比值的增高是脊髓型颈椎病的发育性致病因素。     

颈椎后路椎管扩大成形加短节段固定手术疗效及影响因素分析

目的探讨颈椎后路椎管扩大成形加短节段固定手术治疗脊髓型颈椎病的疗效及影响因素。方法 2006-08-2008-06因脊髓型颈椎病行颈椎后路单开门椎管扩大成形加颈椎侧块钉棒系统固定融合术的患者21例,将患者的年龄、病程、术前椎管矢状径值、骨性椎管扩大率、脊髓后移距离、术前JOA评分诸影响因素与JOA改善率进行多元逐步回归分析,分析JOA改善率与上述诸因素的相关性。结果术前JOA评分、病程与JOA改善率明确相关,有显著性统计学意义。病程与JOA改善率呈明显负相关,术前JOA评分与JOA改善率呈明显正相关。结论颈椎后路单开门椎管扩大成形加颈椎侧块钉棒系统固定融合术是治疗脊髓型颈椎病的有效方法;术前JOA评分和病程是决定脊髓型颈椎病预后的重要因素,是判断预后的重要指标,两者相比,术前JOA评分更重要。     

颈脊髓压迫症脊髓受压程度与术后效果的关系

目的　探讨在相同手术技术条件下脊髓受压程度与术后效果的关系。　方法　１１４ 例因颈椎疾患入院手术患者,分别为后纵韧带骨化组（ＯＰＬＬ）４１ 例、颈椎病组３２ 例、颈椎间盘突出组４１例。用计算机测量脊髓造影ＣＴ（ＣＴＭ）片中脊髓受压最重部位的脊髓面积和受压比率,根据日本ＪＯＡ评分记录术前、术后评分,分析脊髓形态改变与术后效果的相关性。　结果　三组患者脊髓受压比率、脊髓面积均与病程长短无关;ＯＰＬＬ、颈椎病组患者的术前脊髓面积大小与术后恢复率呈正相关（相关系数分别为０－７４８６ 和０－７４９２）;颈椎间盘突出症组与临床资料无相关。　结论　在相同手术技术条件下,ＯＰＬＬ、颈椎病患者术前脊髓面积大小与术后恢复关系密切;而颈椎间盘突出症患者术前脊髓形态变化不能作为判断术后的恢复指标     

两种不同术式治疗合并颈椎后纵韧带骨化的重度脊髓型颈椎病疗效分析

目的探讨前路、后-前联合入路两种不同术式治疗合并颈椎后纵韧带骨化(Ossificationof posterior longitudinal ligament,OPLL)的重度脊髓型颈椎病的适应证及临床疗效。方法对38例合并颈椎OPLL的重度脊髓型颈椎病患者分别行颈椎前路手术(A组,22例)和后-前联合入路手术(B组,16例)。比较两组患者椎管狭窄率、骨化节段及脊髓压迫率的差异,并根据术前及术后随访时的JOA评分,评价两组患者的神经功能恢复情况。结果所有病例随访12～30个月,平均20个月,术中未出现脊髓、椎动脉损伤等严重并发症,两组脊髓功能均获不同程度改善。A组JOA评分从术前平均(7.9+2.1)分提高至术后1年平均(13.1+1.7)分,平均改善率为(65.9+5.2)%;B组JOA评分从术前平均(6.8+1.6)分提高至术后1年平均(13.9+0.9)分,平均改善率为(69.8+4.5)%,对比两组患者疗效无统计学差异(P>0.05)。结论采用前路或后-前联合入路治疗合并颈椎OPLL的重度脊髓型颈椎病,均取得彻底的椎管减压和良好的临床疗效,根据脊髓受压程度、影像学资料、骨化范围及患者全身情况合理选择恰当的手术入路是手术成功的关键。     

Chronic spondylogenic cervical myelopathy. Pathogenesis, prognosis, therapy

The term "spondylotic cervical myelopathy" is not generally used in the same manner. It is not correct at all to use the expression "spondylotic cervical myelopathy" for an illness inducing damage of the cervical spine. This however happens in literature--especially in neurochirurgical ones very often. It is additionally confusing when the specific course of illness induces pathogenetical statements. "Acute cervical myelopathie" is not identical to a spinal cord compression caused by disc-protrusion or slipped disc, just as "chronic myelopathy" is not identical with spondylogenic cervical cord lesions. "Cervical myelopathy" describes an syndrome, exactly an impairment of cervical spinal cord. This syndrome "cervical myelopathy" can base on many causes. Encephalomyelitis disseminata, a tumor in the region of the cervical spine, a myelopathy induced by radiation and also a so-called "whiplash injury" of the cervical spine should be mentioned for example.     

颈神经根管切开减压术的应用解剖研究

为确定颈后路神经根管切开减压术中神经根的减压范围，并进一步探讨神经根型颈椎病的发病机理，在１７具成人颈椎标本上测量了神经根管、神经根及钩突，并模拟手术，从内侧向外逐渐切除关节突关节，根据神经根的减压程度确定切除范围。结果显示：神经根管长度平均为５．７４ｍｍ，上下径平均为９．０１ｍｍ，前后径平均为６．１３ｍｍ。钩突高度平均为５．４７ｍｍ。神经根型颈椎病多由关节突关节及钩椎关节骨质增生压迫神经根所致。由于钩突的阻挡，颈椎间盘向后外侧突出压迫神经根的机会较少。颈后路神经根管切开减压术中关节突关节的最佳切除范围是由关节内侧向外切除约６ｍｍ。小于该范围，易造成减压不充分；大于该范围，因神经根已穿出神经根管，对减压无太大改善，且过多地切除关节突关节，将破坏颈椎的稳定性。     

Cervical laminoplasty for cervical myeloradiculopathy

The role for treatment of conditions resulting in cervical spondylotic myeloradiculopathy through posterior approaches is discussed. The indications and advantages of a posterior approach andin particular laminoplasty are reviewed. Various techniques of laminoplasty are presented. The senior author's technique and series in expansive open door laminoplasty is also reviewed. The series was a prospective study performed to evaluate the clinical result, and the position of the open door laminae in the postoperative period. Cervical open door expansive laminoplasty was performed on 22 patients for cervical spondylotic myeloradiculopathy. Preoperative Nurick's classification and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association score averaged 1.9 and 11.9, respectively. At follow-up (mean, 25.9 months; range, 15 to 40 months), NUR³ classification and JOA scores improved to 0.8 and 15.3, respectively. Digital analysis of serial computed tomography scans shows an average increase in the anteroposterior sagittal diameter of 58% (7.1 mm) with an associated settling of 10% (1.7 mm). Early postsurgical complications include one complete loss of an open door laminar position, and two cases of transient radiculopathy. The transient cases of radiculopathy were related to a fracture of the laminar hinge causing root impingement in one case, and the other caused by nerve root traction at the nonhinged side. Recommendations include a generous open door for the laminoplasty in anticipation of postoperative settling, and foraminal decompression for foraminal radiculopathy. Laminoplasty provides excellent clinical results in patients with myeloradiculopathy caused by cervical spondylotic stenosis and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.     

Is extensive cervical laminoplasty an effective treatment for spinal cord sarcoidosis combined with cervical spondylosis?

Patients with neurosarcoidosis are usually initially treated with steroid administration even when they have concomitant cord compression on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Operative intervention may be indicated in patients with spinal cord sarcoidosis requiring either tissue biopsy for diagnosis or associated with progressive neurologic symptoms. However, there have been no previous reports describing clinical outcomes of laminoplasty for spinal cord sarcoidosis. The objectives of this study are to investigate whether extensive cervical laminoplasty is an effective treatment for spinal cord sarcoidosis combined with spondylotic changes and/or cervical spinal canal stenosis. Open-door laminoplasty was performed in three patients with spinal cord sarcoidosis. All patients received intensive corticosteroid therapy after the operation MRI imaging was performed in all patients before and after the operation. Operative outcomes were not satisfactory and the clinical courses of the patients fluctuated after corticosteroid therapy. Daily life activities were not significantly improved after treatments in any of the three patients, and in the long-term follow-up period the clinical course of one patient was one of inexorable deterioration to a state of quadriplegia. The possibility of spinal cord sarcoidosis should be included in the differential diagnosis, when a distinct high signal intensity area is observed within the spinal cord on T2-weighted MR images in patients with spondylotic changes. Laminoplasty is not an effective intervention for the treatment of spinal cord sarcoidosis even when patients have spondylotic changes and/or a constitutionally narrowing cervical spinal canal. Patients with neurosarcoidosis should be treated first with steroid administration even when they have concomitant cord compression on MRI.     

Neurapraxia of the cervical spinal cord with transient quadriplegia

The purpose of this study was to define as a distinct clinical entity the syndrome of neurapraxia of the cervical spinal cord with transient quadriplegia. The sensory changes include burning pain, numbness, tingling, and loss of sensation, while the motor changes range from weakness to complete paralysis. The episodes are transient and complete recovery usually occurs in ten to fifteen minutes, although in some patients gradual resolution occurs over a period of thirty-six to forty-eight hours. Except for burning paresthesia, pain in the neck is not present at the time of injury and there is complete return of motor function and full, pain-free motion of the cervical spine. In our series, routine roentgenograms of the cervical spine were negative for fractures or dislocations in all patients. However, the roentgenographic findings did include developmental spinal stenosis in seventeen patients, congenital fusion in five patients, cervical instability in four patients, and intervertebral disc disease in six patients. Spinal stenosis was determined by two different roentgenographic methods. The first was the standard method, and the second was a ratio method devised by us. Both measurements were made at the level of the third through the sixth vertebral body on a routine lateral roentgenogram of the cervical spine that was available for twenty-four of the thirty-two patients and for a control group of forty-nine male subjects of similar age who did not have any neurological complaints. Using the ratio method, a measurement of less than 0.80 indicated significant spinal stenosis in the group of twenty-four patients for whom roentgenograms were available, as compared with a ratio of approximately 1.00 or more in the control group. There was statistically significant spinal stenosis (p less than 0.0001) in all of the patients as compared with the control subjects by both methods of determining spinal stenosis. A survey of 503 schools participating in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football in the 1984 season found that 1.3 per 10,000 athletes had a history that was suggestive of neurapraxia of the cervical spinal cord. The phenomenon of neurapraxia of the cervical spinal cord occurs in individuals with developmental stenosis of the cervical spine, congenital fusion, cervical instability, or protrusion of an intervertebral disc in association with a decrease in the anteroposterior diameter of the spinal canal. We postulate that in athletes with diminution of the anteroposterior diameter of the spinal canal the spinal cord can, on forced hyperextension or hyperflexion, be compressed, causing transitory motor and sensory manifestations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Measurement of the cervical spinal cord volume on MRI

BACKGROUND: There are some reports about the relationships between the clinical manifestations and the spine morphology or spinal cord morphology in patients with myelopathy. It has also been reported that there are interindividual variations in the cross-sectional area of the spinal cord. In most of these reports, the cross-sectional area, compression ratio, and anteroposterior diameter were used as morphologic parameters of the spinal cord, but no reports have been published on the use of spinal cord volume. OBJECTIVES: To measure the cervical spinal cord volume of healthy people and to evaluate the relationships between this volume and each of height, body weight, age, and gender, in a morphologic study of cervical spinal cord on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: The cervical spinal cord volume of 90 healthy people (47 males, 43 females) was measured on MRI, and the relationships between this volume and each of gender, height, body weight, and age were evaluated. In addition, the cervical spinal cord volume ratio was evaluated. RESULTS: Our study showed that in healthy people, the cervical spinal cord volume depended on the gender, age, height, and body weight and that the cervical spinal cord volume was larger in the males than in the females, decreased with age, and increased with height and body weight. However, the cervical spinal cord volume ratio was not affected by gender, age, height, or body weight. CONCLUSIONS: We consider that the cervical spinal cord volume ratio can be used to evaluate cervical spinal cord atrophy in patients with cervical myelopathy and can be important information in looking for clinically critical points. The cervical spinal cord volume was larger in males than in the females, decreased with age, and increased with height and body weight. The cervical spinal cord volume ratio was not affected by gender, age, height, or body weight.