Abstract
In an attempt to formulate a standardised approach to the diagnosis and management of patients with the double-crush syndrome, we reviewed 65 surgical cases (39 men and 26 women) with cervical myeloradiculopathy associated with entrapment neuropathy in the arm by examining the clinical features, results of nerve conduction velocity studies and distribution of the vertebral levels of compression. Fifty-three patients (average age, 43 years) presented with a carpal tunnel syndrome at the wrist and cervical lesions (41 with spondylosis and 12 with ossified posterior longitudinal ligament), while 12 had a cubital tunnel syndrome at the elbow with cervical lesions (eight with spondylosis and four with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament). In the former group, the lesions were found mostly at C5–6 and C6–7 levels, while in the latter group involvement of C6–7 was frequently observed. Two patients in each group required additional cervical decompression after carpal or cubital tunnel release. A retrospective review of our patients suggested that it is reasonable to pursue an accurate diagnosis followed by treatment based on individual neurological and electrophysiological findings, but taking into consideration the significant level of physical impairment associated with cord compromise, we believe that it may be reasonable to perform a cervical decompression rather than peripheral nerve release in such cases. Our findings suggest that one should be aware of a double-crush during examination of patients complaining of neck and hand problems.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Baba, H., Maezawa, Y., Uchida, K. et al. Cervical myeloradiculopathy with entrapment neuropathy: a study based on the double-crush concept. Spinal Cord 36, 399–404 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.sc.3100539
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.sc.3100539
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Association of psychological factors with limb disability in patients with cervical radiculopathy: comparison with carpal tunnel syndrome
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders (2022)
-
Predisposing factors for poor outcome of surgery for cervical spondylotic amyotrophy: a multivariate analysis
Scientific Reports (2016)
-
The “Hierarchical” Scratch Collapse Test for Identifying Multilevel Ulnar Nerve Compression
HAND (2015)
-
Clinical characteristics and electrodiagnostic features in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, double crush syndrome, and cervical radiculopathy
Rheumatology International (2012)
-
Cervical spondylotic amyotrophy
European Spine Journal (2011)