Peer Reviewed
Perspectives on orthopaedics

A 65-year-old man with increasing difficulty walking

Ralph Stanford
Abstract
A retired man presents with features of spinal cord dysfunction, including a disturbed gait. What diagnoses should be considered and how should he be treated?
Key Points
    Case presentation
    History and examination

    A retired 65-year-old man presented to his general practitioner describing difficulty in walking. The problem had been increasing slowly, such that he now needed a walking frame and was not confident to leave home. In recent weeks he had noticed clumsiness when doing up the buttons on his shirt and difficulty in holding a knife and fork. He described more neck stiffness than pain. On questioning, he admitted to urinary urgency over the last few months.

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