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Suggest Treatment For Pannus Compression Putting Pressure On Brain And Spinal Cord
Question: I have a pannus that is putting pressure on the brain stem and the spinal cord. I am 88 yrs old and in good health but am having several signs of losing use of arms and legs. Also have a problem with drooling from both sides of my mouth.
Brief Answer:
There is need for decompressive surgery.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, I had gone through your question and understand your concerns.
Difficulty using arms and legs means there is myelopathy ( cervical spine or medulla damage) from pannus compression.
Drooling means there is brainstem and cranial nerves damage.
Best way to stop progression of your symptoms and saving you from serious disability is decompressive surgery.
So there is need to consult a Neurosurgeon and discuss the possibility of decompressive surgery.
Offcourse there are other medical aspects to be considered, your cardiopulmonary function, other conditions that may affect surgical procedures.
There is need also for plain radiographs of your cervical spine in motion ( flexion, extension posture) to check for/ rule out instability that may need fusion together with decomprression.
Conservative treatment consists on good control of causing disease ( assume it is rheumatoid arthritis), but when neurological symptoms appear, surgery is the first choice to stop progression of symptoms and severe disability.
Surgery consists on transoral ( through the mouth) decomprression and +/- posterior cervical fusion.
Hope this answers your question. If you have additional questions or follow up questions then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your questions.
There is need for decompressive surgery.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, I had gone through your question and understand your concerns.
Difficulty using arms and legs means there is myelopathy ( cervical spine or medulla damage) from pannus compression.
Drooling means there is brainstem and cranial nerves damage.
Best way to stop progression of your symptoms and saving you from serious disability is decompressive surgery.
So there is need to consult a Neurosurgeon and discuss the possibility of decompressive surgery.
Offcourse there are other medical aspects to be considered, your cardiopulmonary function, other conditions that may affect surgical procedures.
There is need also for plain radiographs of your cervical spine in motion ( flexion, extension posture) to check for/ rule out instability that may need fusion together with decomprression.
Conservative treatment consists on good control of causing disease ( assume it is rheumatoid arthritis), but when neurological symptoms appear, surgery is the first choice to stop progression of symptoms and severe disability.
Surgery consists on transoral ( through the mouth) decomprression and +/- posterior cervical fusion.
Hope this answers your question. If you have additional questions or follow up questions then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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