Which clinical sign is typically associated with cervical myelopathy?

• A. Tinel sign at wrist
• B. Phalen maneuver
• C. Babinski sign
• D. Straight leg raise

Answer: (C)

Cervical myelopathy causes compression of the spinal cord, leading to upper motor neuron dysfunction below the level of the lesion. The Babinski sign—an upgoing big toe with dorsiflexion of the big toe and toe spreading—reflects corticospinal tract involvement and is a classic UMN finding in cervical myelopathy. This sign captures the central nervous system (spinal cord) origin of the problem, rather than a peripheral nerve issue or nerve root irritation.

The other signs point to different problems: a Tinel sign at the wrist and Phalen maneuver test the median nerve in the carpal tunnel and are not indicators of spinal cord compression. A straight leg raise tests lumbar nerve root irritation rather than cervical cord pathology. So Babinski sign best aligns with cervical spinal cord involvement.