Sensory impairment in the hands secondary to spondylotic compression of the cervical spinal cord
R. R. Voskuhl and R. C. Hinton
Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas 75235-9036.
In a 5-year period, 11 patients with spondylotic compression of the
cervical spinal cord presented with a clinical picture dominated by
glove-distribution sensory loss in the hands. Compressive lesions in each
case were documented by myelography. The hand sensory loss was often
global, and in some patients the involvement extended proximally as far as
the elbows. Motor findings in the hands were no more than mild to moderate,
as were motor and sensory findings in the legs. Nine patients improved with
surgical decompression. The syndrome may result from ischemia to the
intrinsic border areas of collateralization between the superficial pial
network and the central arterial supply to the cervical cord, although
venous stagnation may also play a role. This clinical presentation should
always raise the suspicion of a cervical myelopathy, which is potentially
treatable.
