Cervical Stenosis

Cervical stenosis is narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck to the point that the spinal cord or nerve roots are compressed. Most cases result from degenerative spondylosis — a combination of disc degeneration, facet hypertrophy, ligamentum flavum buckling, and osteophyte formation — accumulating over decades. Some patients have congenitally narrow canals that make them more vulnerable.

Stenosis without cord compression may be asymptomatic for years. When the cord is compressed, patients develop cervical myelopathy: clumsy hands, gait instability, and in severe cases, loss of bladder or bowel control.

MRI is the definitive test, showing the degree of canal narrowing and cord signal change. CT myelogram is used when MRI is contraindicated or when bony detail is needed for surgical planning. Myelopathy is graded clinically using the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) scale.

Surgery helps only a small minority of spine patients — usually those with a specific structural problem plus a nerve issue that isn’t getting better with a structured non-operative trial. When that step is genuinely warranted, OSI coordinates it the same way we coordinate every other part of your care: imaging, records, and the handoff are handled for you, so no part of the process falls on your shoulders.

Emergency. Sudden loss of hand dexterity, worsening balance, arm or leg weakness, or loss of bladder or bowel control can reflect spinal-cord compression — go to the nearest emergency department rather than waiting for a clinic appointment.

External patient-education references and related OSI pages for additional background:

• Britannica — Vertebral column
• AAOS OrthoInfo — patient education library
• OSI glossary — orthopedic terminology in plain language