Fact-sheet: Congenital cervical spinal stenosis


Updated on 09/05/2018 at 4:25 PM

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Definition

Constitutional narrowing of the cervical canal

Radiography

On the lateral radiograph of the cervical spine:

- Inability to fit a vertebral body within the canal

- Decreased or absent safe zone, with the spinolaminar line projecting onto the posterior border of the facet joints

CT

On axial CT images, the anteroposterior diameter of the bony canal is measured:

Normal: 13-14 mm from C3 to C7

Narrow cervical canal:

  • Absolute stenosis <10mm
  • Relative stenosis 10-13mm

MRI

Workup for cervical spondylotic myelopathy:

  • effacement of the perimedullary CSF spaces
  • T2 hyperintensity of the cord on MRI