Magnetic Stimulation of the Motor Cortex in Cervical Spondylosis

[en] We report a new technique of transcranial magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex to measure conduction within central motor pathways of 67 patients with cervical spondylosis or disk herniation. There were upper motor neuron signs in 34 patients (51%) and x-ray evidence of cervical cord compression in 44 (66%). Muscle action potentials (MAPs) to cortical stimulation were abnormal in 84% of patients with, and 22% of those without, radiologic signs of cervical cord compression. Median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials were altered in only 25% of patients. The frequency of MAP alterations correlated with upper motor neuron signs. In 5 (11%) of the 44 patients with x-ray evidence of cervical cord compression, subclinical cord compression was disclosed by cortical stimulation. In 10 patients restudied 3 months after surgical decompression, normalization of central motor conduction time did not occur, indicating permanent damage to the cervical cord.

Disciplines :

Neurology

Author, co-author :

Maertens De Noordhout, Alain ; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège - CHU > Neurologie CHR

Remacle, J. M.

PEPIN, Jean-Louis ; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège - CHU > Neurologie CHR

Born, J. D.

Delwaide, Paul ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Services généraux (Faculté de médecine) > Relations académiques et scientifiques (Médecine)

Language :

English

Title :

Magnetic Stimulation of the Motor Cortex in Cervical Spondylosis

Publication date :

January 1991

Journal title :

Neurology

ISSN :

0028-3878

eISSN :

1526-632X

Publisher :

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, United States - Maryland

Volume :

Issue :

Pages :

75-80

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Available on ORBi :

since 28 December 2011

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Bibliography

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