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Horak T, Horakova M, Kerkovsky M, Dostal M, Hlustik P, Valosek J, Svatkova A, Bednarik P, Vlckova E, Bednarik J. Evidence-based commentary on the diagnosis, management, and further research of degenerative cervical spinal cord compression in the absence of clinical symptoms of myelopathy. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1341371. [PMID: 38798708 PMCID: PMC11116587 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1341371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) represents the final consequence of a series of degenerative changes in the cervical spine, resulting in cervical spinal canal stenosis and mechanical stress on the cervical spinal cord. This process leads to subsequent pathophysiological processes in the spinal cord tissues. The primary mechanism of injury is degenerative compression of the cervical spinal cord, detectable by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), serving as a hallmark for diagnosing DCM. However, the relative resilience of the cervical spinal cord to mechanical compression leads to clinical-radiological discordance, i.e., some individuals may exhibit MRI findings of DCC without the clinical signs and symptoms of myelopathy. This degenerative compression of the cervical spinal cord without clinical signs of myelopathy, potentially serving as a precursor to the development of DCM, remains a somewhat controversial topic. In this review article, we elaborate on and provide commentary on the terminology, epidemiology, natural course, diagnosis, predictive value, risks, and practical management of this condition-all of which are subjects of ongoing debate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Horak
- Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Magda Horakova
- Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Milos Kerkovsky
- Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Marek Dostal
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Petr Hlustik
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czechia
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Olomouc, Olomouc, Czechia
| | - Jan Valosek
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czechia
- Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czechia
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Mila—Quebec AI Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Alena Svatkova
- Danish Research Center for Magnetic Resonance, Center for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Radiology, Center for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Petr Bednarik
- Danish Research Center for Magnetic Resonance, Center for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Radiology, Center for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Eva Vlckova
- Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Josef Bednarik
- Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia
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Sher IK, Davis GA. Commentary: Asymptomatic Spinal Cord Compression: Is Surgery Necessary to Return to Play. Neurosurgery 2021; 88:E556-E557. [PMID: 33677587 DOI: 10.1093/neuros/nyab055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Idrees K Sher
- Department of Neurosurgery, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Gavin A Davis
- Department of Neurosurgery, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia.,Neurosurgery, Cabrini Health, Melbourne, Australia
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