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Study Design.

Retrospective analysis of routine computed tomography investigations.

Objective.

To investigate whether the extent of clinical symptoms in patients undergoing surgery for cervical spinal myelopathy depends on the transsectional area of the cervical spinal canal.

Methods.

Forty-five patients underwent surgery using different techniques to enlarge the width of the spinal canal. For clinical evaluation before and after surgery, a modified score of the Japanese Orthopedic Association was used (mean follow-up period, 19.6±9.1 months). The cross-sectional area of the spinal canal in computed tomography scans (C4-C6) was quantified 1 day before and 1 week after surgery using pixel-dependent area calculation software for three different density ranges given in Hounsfield units.

Results.

After surgery, a significant enlargement of the cervical spinal canal of 78.2±55.9% could be achieved. The Japanese …