Functional Recovery During Conservative Rehabilitation in Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Associated with Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A Case Report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26911/theijmed.2026.11.4.987Abstract
Background: Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is the most common cause of spinal cord dysfunction and progressive neurological disability in adults, and patients with incomplete cervical spinal cord injury classified as AIS C may retain substantial potential for neurological and functional recovery. However, the role of structured conservative rehabilitation in patients who do not undergo surgery remains unclear. This case report aims to describe functional recovery following conservative rehabilitation in a patient with DCM.
Case presentation: This was a case report conducted at Nurdin Hamzah General Hospital, Tanjung Jabung Timur, Jambi, Indonesia. The subject was a 41-year-old man with progressive spastic tetraparesis, documented as American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS C) cervical spinal cord injury associated with DCM, confirmed by cervical Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) showing multilevel spondyloarthrosis, degenerative disc disease, grade I retrolisthesis at C3–C6, and severe canal stenosis with cord compression at C5–C7. Data were obtained from medical records, including serial clinical examination and International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) motor scores. The patient declined surgical decompression and underwent structured outpatient conservative rehabilitation comprising progressive strengthening, functional training, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and short-wave diathermy (SWD). Neurological and functional recovery were evaluated descriptively based on serial motor scores and ambulation status.
Results: Total ISNCSCI motor score improved from 40 to 90, with UEMS increasing from 30 to 50 and LEMS from 10 to 40. The patient achieved assisted ambulation by the third month and independent ambulation by the fourth month of rehabilitation.
Conclusion: Neurological and functional improvement was observed during structured conservative rehabilitation in patients with AIS C cervical spinal cord injury associated with degenerative cervical myelopathy.
Keywords:
cervical myelopathy, cord injury, functional recovery, tetraparesisHow to Cite
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