Abstract #3454

Spinal Cord Compression is Associated with Brain Plasticity in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy

Alicia Cronin^1,2, Sarah Detombe³, Camille Duggal², Neil Duggal³, and Robert Bartha^1,2

¹Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada, ²Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, Robarts Research Institute, London, ON, Canada, ³Clinical Neurological Sciences, University Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, Canada

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is one of the most common forms of spinal cord dysfunction. Predicting functional recovery after surgery remains elusive. The extent of cortical activation in the primary motor cortex was assessed using fMRI when DCM patients performed a controlled finger-tapping task. Spine compression severity was quantified using T₂-weighted imaging. Patients with severe spine compression showed larger activation volumes. Recruitment of neurons to compensate for functional deficits may explain these activation changes. Hypoxia at the spine compression site may drive this cortical plasticity. Future studies should measure hypoxia and explore prognostic determinants.

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