Disorders of the Cervical Spinal Cord in Older Patients

Abstract

Cervical spondylosis with compression of the spinal cord is the most common producer of spastic paraparesis of the lower extremities in middle-aged and elderly persons. Other conditions which are likely to produce this picture, often combined with impaired function of the arms, are subacute combined degeneration, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis. Features which are important in differential diagnosis are listed.

Intermittent cervical traction produces at least temporary clinical improvement in most cases of cervical spondylosis, and sometimes the degree of improvement is remarkable in view of the underlying abnormality of bone and cartilage.