Rozhledy v chirurgii : měsíčník Československé chirurgické společnosti
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The aim of this project was to compare and evaluate cortical sensorimotor adaptations as measured by brain fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) in patients before and after surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), i.e., after spinal cord decompression. ⋯ An average difference of anteroposterior cervical spinal canal distance before and after surgery of CSM was 2.67 millimetres, representing a 40% increase; the cross-sectional area of the spinal canal increased by 37% and that of the spinal cord by 36%. Functional MRI of the brain revealed significant activation especially in primary and secondary motor cortex and sensory areas in patients with CSM. After surgical decompression of the spinal cord, cortical activations and maximum Z-score decreased in the majority of areas. We proved decreased cortical activation on functional MRI of the brain after surgery in patients with CSM (evaluated according to MRI of cervical spine), even at an initial stage of the disease.