OBJECTIVE

To investigate clinical and radiologic results of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for cervical spondylotic myelopathy in elderly patients with T2-weighted increased signal intensity (ISI), focusing specifically on the quantitative analysis of ISI.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 88 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy with ISI who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with a minimum 1-year follow-up. Patients were divided into 2 groups: patients older than 65 (elderly group, 36 patients) or younger (young group, 52 patients). The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score was used to evaluate the neurologic status. The signal change ratio (SCR) was defined as the grayscale of ISI region divided by that at C7-T1 disc level. The C2-C7 sagittal alignment, range of motion, SCR, and ISI length were measured.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in C2-C7 sagittal alignment and range of motion. However, the JOA score at 1-year follow-up and recovery rate in elderly group were significantly lower than in young group (P < 0.001). SCR and ISI length were significantly greater in elderly group than in young group, whereas their changes were significantly lower in elderly group (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that an older age, a lower preoperative JOA score, a greater preoperative SCR, and a longer preoperative ISI length at 1-year follow-up were negatively correlated with the clinical outcomes in the elderly group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with young patients with ISI, the elderly patients had a lower preoperative JOA score, a greater preoperative SCR, and a longer preoperative ISI length, indicating poor surgical outcomes.