What Is Cervical Canal Narrowing?
Question: What is cervical stenosis?
Answer: It is narrowing of the spinal canal leading to involvement of the spinal cord and/or nerve roots. It is more common at older ages. In addition to arm pain, gait disturbance and loss of hand dexterity are warning signs for myelopathy.
Treatment steps in cervical canal stenosis (general framework):
- Risk classification with clinical and neurological examination
- Imaging (MRI + CT) to define level and severity of compression
- Conservative approach in mild cases (pain control, physiotherapy, ergonomics)
- Discussion of surgical options if there is progressive myelopathy or neurological deficit (goals: decompress and stabilize)