Radiculopathy or myelopathy often occurs during adult life in patients
who have athetosis. Herniation of an intervertebral disc, spondylosis,
malalignment or instability of the cervical spine, or a combination of
these lesions, can develop because of the athetoid hyperactivity. We
reviewed the cases of ten patients who had cervical radiculopathy or
myelopathy, or both, secondary to athetosis and who were surgically treated
between the ages of thirty and fifty-eight years. The surgery consisted of
discectomy, removal of osteophytes, and anterior interbody fusion. When
several segments were involved, an extensive subtotal resection of the
vertebrae and discs, followed by strut bone-grafting, was done.