- White matter fiber tracking may also help to determine the pathophysiology underlying cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Currently, there is a debate as to whether cervical spondylitic myelopathy is caused mainly by compressive narrowing of the spinal canal, which may lead to focal ischemia and tissue injury, or whether excessive motion due to cervical spondylosis results in increased strain and shear of spinal axons resulting in injury (Henderson et al., Neurosurgery 56(5):1101-13, 2005). If the latter is correct one would expect diffusion changes along the course of white matter tracks above and below the spondylotic changes.