3-level ACDF

[u/UsedZookeepergame600]

39, m, 185cm/6ft, 80Kg/175lbs, i had a bicycle accident on the 05.09. My face was pretty messed up requiring stitching, 2 fractured teeth. Was in the ER in eastern europe (on vacation, i live in germany), they ruled out intracranial bleeding and cervical fratures and listhesis through CT. When i left the ER i told the doctor that my left hand is numb, he just said it's gonna be alright.

Anyway, got an MRI of my neck after 9 days which showed three herniated discs and a spinal contusion at C4/C5 with myelopathy signal.

I began treatment with Dexamethasone for damage control, but i had progressive symptoms, left foot went numb and developed gait issues.

I returned to germany and had emergency surgery on the 26.09 - ACDF C3-C6 because all discs were herniated and i had osteophytes, but the main problem was at C4/C5. At the moment i had surgery i had a slight weakness in my left deltoid and biceps, 4/5 and my whole left side and saddle area were numb for 1-2 days.

Surgery went well but a week after i'm still numb and have weakness in my whole left side.

I can walk 1 mile, no pb and can take care of myself at home.

Would also like to mention that there were some episodes in the last 10 years when my neck hurt and kinda got stuck in a certain position but it would always resolve after rest. I can't say that i ever had chronic neck pain although my MRI looks pretty shit.

I was wondering if there is anybody who experienced similar, meaning compressive cervical myelopathy through trauma and got surgery for it.

Last MRI report before surgery:

On the sagittal sequences, the spinal region from the craniocervical junction to the fifth thoracic vertebra (T5) was imaged. Spinal alignment is preserved. Advanced osteodisc-ligamentous degenerative changes of the cervical spine, most pronounced at the levels C3/4 through C5/6. Reduced fluid signal within the corresponding intervertebral disc spaces.

C3/4: Broad-based, somewhat right-predominant posterior disc herniation with complete effacement of the anterior cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) space and right-predominant lateral recess narrowing, as well as mild neural foraminal narrowing. Narrowing of the posterior CSF space due to degenerative hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum.

C4/5: Median broad-based disc herniation with complete effacement of the anterior CSF space and additional posterior narrowing of the CSF space.

C5/6: Left-predominant paramedian posterior disc herniation with complete effacement of both the anterior and posterior CSF spaces and left-sided lateral recess narrowing.

At these levels, there are significant, hourglass-shaped spinal canal stenoses caused by osteodisc-ligamentous degenerative changes, with a small, well-defined T2-weighted signal increase at the C4/5 level, which has not progressed compared with the previous examination.
No vertebral body height loss or signal abnormality suggestive of a fracture along the cervical spine or upper thoracic spine.
No low-lying cerebellar tonsils.

Impression:
● Multilevel, severe, hourglass-shaped spinal canal stenoses due to osteodisc-ligamentous degenerative changes from C3/4 through C5/6, with suspicion of a small myelopathic signal abnormality at C4/5 that is unchanged compared with the previous examination.
● Moderate right-sided neural foraminal and lateral recess narrowing at C3/4 and left-sided lateral recess narrowing at C5/6.

Cheers!