Transcranial magnetic stimulation but not MRI predicts long-term clinical status in cervical spondylosis: a case series

Study Design: Case series. Objective: To compare transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings between patients who underwent surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy and those with spondylosis who were not operated upon, and to correlate these findings with clinical functionality at follow-up. Setting: Private practice. Methods: Of 16 consecutive patients with cervical spondylosis 8 underwent surgery (group I) and 8 were treated conservatively (group II). We compared TMS and MRI findings between these groups and we correlated central motor conduction times (CMCTs) and MRI-measured sagittal and parasagittal diameters of the spinal canal at baseline evaluation, with clinical functionality at 2-year follow-up. Results: Group I CMCTs at the lower limbs correlated significantly with modified-JoA 2 years post surgery (r=-0.71, P<0.05), but MRI-measured diameters did not. In group II baseline TMS was unrevealing, contrary to significant spinal stenosis disclosed by MRI. The condition of none of these patients deteriorated at 2 years. Conclusions: CMCTs at the lower limbs, but not cervical spinal canal diameters, correlate with long-term functional outcome following surgical or conservative treatment.