Cervical Myelopathy

Cervical Myelopathy Care at UVM Health

Cervical myelopathy occurs when the portion of the spinal cord in your neck (cervical spine) gets compressed, causing nerve pain, numbness and weakness in your hands.

As you age, the cushioning (discs) between your spinal bones may dry out, lose height or bulge. These disc changes can squeeze your spinal cord and disrupt the nerve signals that go to your arms and hands.

The most effective treatment for cervical myelopathy is surgery to relieve pressure on your spinal cord. The University of Vermont Health spine team provides effective treatment to relieve your symptoms and improve your function.

A medical provider checks a patient's neck.

Why Choose UVM Health?

We are the largest spine program in northern New York and Vermont, with decades of experience delivering state-of-the-art care. As one of the leading orthopedic programs in the region, we offer:

Team-based, specialized care: Our orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons are joined by a team of pain management physicians, physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, dedicated spine physical therapists and advanced practice providers with expertise and skill in treating spine conditions.
Full range of treatment options: With fellowship training in spine surgery, our surgical team can offer every available treatment option for cervical myelopathy, including early access to some new technologies.
Research emphasis: As part of a health system anchored by an academic medical center, our physician-leaders are active researchers. We are at the forefront of orthopedic care, presenting our research at national meetings.

Cervical Myelopathy Symptoms

Cervical myelopathy causes symptoms that affect your nerves. You may not notice symptoms in the condition's early stages. As myelopathy worsens, you may experience:

Difficulty with hand coordination and fine motor tasks
Hand or arm weakness
Neck pain or stiffness
Numbness or tingling in your fingers or hands
Poor balance while walking

Diagnosing Cervical Myelopathy

When diagnosing cervical myelopathy, your specialist will physically examine your neck, shoulders, arms and hands. Then they’ll ask about your symptoms, including when they started, how they’ve progressed and what, if anything, relieves them.

We use imaging to get a closer look at your bones and soft tissues, including:

X-rays: Use low doses of radiation to create an image of your bones that shows the alignment in your cervical spine (the portion of your spine running through your neck)
MRIs: Use magnets and radio waves to get a close look at your soft tissues, which can help us identify herniated discs or other disc problems

Cervical Myelopathy Treatment

Surgery is the most effective way to treat cervical myelopathy. During surgery, we remove pieces of soft tissue or bone to relieve the pressure on your spinal cord.

There are several surgical approaches to treat cervical myelopathy. The one that’s right for you depends on your symptoms, overall health and what part of your spine is affected. Cervical myelopathy surgeries include:

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)

Your surgeon removes the affected disc and any bone spurs through an incision on the front of your neck. Then they stabilize your spine by connecting two or more of your spinal bones (vertebrae) so that they heal into one solid piece.

Disc Replacement

Your surgeon removes the affected disc and replaces it with an artificial disc. You may have a disc replacement with an anterior approach, where your surgeon operates through an incision on the front of the neck.

Laminectomy and Fusion

During a laminectomy, your surgeon removes the lamina, a bone at the back of your spine. This relieves pressure and provides more space for your spinal cord. Then your surgeon places rods or screws to fuse two or more vertebrae together to stabilize your spine.

Laminoplasty

Instead of removing your lamina completely, a laminoplasty involves your surgeon thinning out one side of the lamina and making an incision on the other side. This creates a hinge that allows for more space for your spinal cord.

Awards & Certifications

Healthgrades, a prominent online resource for consumers seeking information about doctors and hospitals, has named University of Vermont Medical Center among the top 10 percent in the U.S. for outpatient orthopedic surgery and recognized the academic medical center with its prestigious Outpatient Joint Replacement Excellence Award.