Premium
Surgical outcome in patients with coexisting multiple sclerosis and spondylosis
Author(s) -
Young W. F.,
Weaver M.,
Mishra B.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1999.tb01042.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cervical spondylosis , multiple sclerosis , myelopathy , sciatica , etiology , exacerbation , weakness , surgery , degenerative disease , spinal stenosis , central nervous system disease , spinal cord , pathology , lumbar , alternative medicine , psychiatry
Objectives ‐ Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuro‐degenerative disease of unknown etiology which results in destruction of myelin. A variety of neurologic signs and symptoms are associated with MS and include myelopathy, extremity weakness, low back pain, sciatica and paresthesias. Many of these signs and symptoms are identical to those experienced by patients with spondylosis (e.g. spinal stenosis, disc herniations). The coexistence of MS with spondylosis can be problematic both for diagnosis and treatment. Materials and methods ‐ During the period 1992 to 1996 we identified 7 patients with previously diagnosed MS who developed new syndromes which were thought to be related to a variety of degenerative spine conditions. The diagnosis of MS was based on standard clinical, immunological and neuroradiological criteria. Results ‐ Five of 7 patients demonstrated significant improvement after surgery. One patient experienced a transient MS exacerbation after surgery. Conclusions ‐ From our series we concluded that surgery for degenerative spine conditions can be performed in a safe and effective manner in patients with coexisting multiple sclerosis.