Objective
To investigate objectively the postoperative change of the gait pattern in patients with cervical myelopathy through gait analysis.
Methods: Thirty nine patients who underwent cervical decompression and fusion for cervical myelopathy were studied. Preoperatively, gait disturbance was present in all patients. The patients were evaluated with Nurick classification, Functional Independence measure (FIM) score and gait analysis using three dimensional motion analyzer before surgery, 1 week and 3 months after surgery.
Results: In the Nurick classification there was statistically significant change but no significant change in FIM score after surgery. In the gait analysis there were statistically significant improvements in all the linear parameters, kinetic (ankle plantarflexion moment) and kinematic (knee range of motion in swing phase) parameters (p＜0.05).
Conclusion: This study suggests that gait analysis can be used as a quantitative tools of postoperative gait improvement in patient with cervical myelopathy. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2003; 27: 58-62)
