Mechanical and cellular processes driving cervical myelopathy

Table 1 Pathophysiological factors involved in cervical myelopathy

Static factors

Spondylosis

Disc degeneration

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament

Ossification of ligamentum flavum

Congenital stenosis

Other acquired congenital pathology, e.g., tumors, calcification

Dynamic factors

Changes in neck flexion/extension - narrow spinal canal

Biomolecular factors

Ischemic injury - compression of spinal cord vasculature

Glutamate - mediated excitotoxicity

Oligodendrocyte and neuronal apoptosis