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Firempong GK, Sheppard WL, Gelfand Y, Ellingson BM, Holly LT. Spinal Cord Signal Intensity Predicts Functional Outcomes in the Operative Management of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy. Clin Spine Surg 2023; 36:438-443. [PMID: 38031316 PMCID: PMC10691530 DOI: 10.1097/bsd.0000000000001479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Prospective single institutional cohort study on degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) from 2009 to 2022. OBJECTIVE This study aims to assess the relationship among preoperative spinal cord signal change, postoperative signal change evolution, and functional outcome in patients undergoing surgery for DCM. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA There is conflicting evidence on whether spinal cord signal intensity influences functional outcomes in patients with DCM. PATIENTS AND METHODS This prospective study investigated 104 patients with DCM that underwent both preoperative and routine postoperative cervical spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as part of a research protocol. Signal intensity/grade, modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) scores, signal resolution, and patient demographics were assessed. RESULTS Sixty-eight of the subjects were found to have abnormal T2 spinal cord signal intensity changes on their preoperative MRI. The total mean preoperative mJOA score was 13.6, increasing postoperatively to 16 (P < 0.001). The presence or absence of preoperative spinal cord signal change was not associated with the change in mJOA score or neurological recovery rate after surgery. Of the 68 patients with preoperative T2 signal change, 36 were found to have an improvement in the T2-weighted signal grade after surgery and 32 had no change in postoperative signal grade. The mean improvement in mJOA score (3.7) and neurological recovery rate (70.3%) was significantly higher in the patients with preoperative signal change whose postoperative MRI signal change grade improved by at least one point compared with those that did not (2.0, 50.5%), (P < 0.001, P < 0.003). CONCLUSIONS The presence of preoperative T2-weighted signal change was associated with lower preoperative mJOA scores, but no change in mJOA after surgery or postoperative neurological recovery rate. However, improvement in T2-weighted spinal cord signal grade on postoperative MRI was significantly associated with a degree of neurological improvement after surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaylinn Kwame Firempong
- Department of Orthopaedics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - William L Sheppard
- Department of Orthopaedics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Yaroslav Gelfand
- Department of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Benjamin M. Ellingson
- Department of Radiological Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
- Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Langston T Holly
- Department of Orthopaedics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
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de Dios E, Laesser M, Björkman-Burtscher IM, Lindhagen L, MacDowall A. MRI-based measurements of spondylolisthesis and kyphosis in degenerative cervical myelopathy. BMC Med Imaging 2023; 23:180. [PMID: 37946139 PMCID: PMC10634168 DOI: 10.1186/s12880-023-01151-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To provide normative data and to determine accuracy and reliability of preoperative measurements of spondylolisthesis and kyphosis on supine static magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy. METHODS T2-weighted midsagittal images of the cervical spine were in 100 cases reviewed twice by one junior observer, with an interval of 3 months, and once by a senior observer. The spondylolisthesis slip (SSlip, mm) and the modified K-line interval (mK-line INT, mm) were assessed for accuracy with the standard error of measurement (SEm) and the minimum detectable change (MDC). Intraobserver and interobserver reliability levels were determined using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). RESULTS The SEm was 0.5 mm (95% CI 0.4-0.6) for spondylolisthesis and 0.6 mm (95% CI 0.5-0.7) for kyphosis. The MDC, i.e., the smallest difference between two examinations that can be detected with statistical certainty, was 1.5 mm (95% CI 1.2-1.8) for spondylolisthesis and 1.6 mm (95% CI 1.3-1.8) for kyphosis. The highest reliability levels were seen between the second observation of the junior examiner and the senior observer (ICC = 0.80 [95% CI 0.70-0.87] and ICC = 0.96 [95% CI 0.94-0.98] for SSlip and mK-line INT, respectively). CONCLUSIONS This study provides normative values of alignment measurements of spondylolisthesis and kyphosis in DCM patients. It further shows the importance of taking measurement errors into account when defining cut-off values for cervical deformity parameters and their potential clinical application in surgical decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eddie de Dios
- Department of Radiology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
- Department of Radiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Bruna stråket 11, Gothenburg, 41345, Sweden.
| | - Mats Laesser
- Department of Radiology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Radiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Bruna stråket 11, Gothenburg, 41345, Sweden
| | - Isabella M Björkman-Burtscher
- Department of Radiology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Radiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Bruna stråket 11, Gothenburg, 41345, Sweden
| | - Lars Lindhagen
- Uppsala Clinical Research Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna MacDowall
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Hirayama Y, Mowforth OD, Davies BM, Kotter MRN. Determinants of quality of life in degenerative cervical myelopathy: a systematic review. Br J Neurosurg 2023; 37:71-81. [PMID: 34791981 DOI: 10.1080/02688697.2021.1999390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is the most common cause of chronic, progressive spinal cord impairment worldwide. Patients experience substantial pain, functional neurological decline and disability. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) appears to be particularly poor, even when compared to other chronic diseases. However, the determinants of HRQoL are poorly understood. The objective was to perform a systematic review of the determinants of quality of life of people with DCM. METHODS A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE and Embase following PRISMA 2020 guidelines (PROSPERO CRD42018115675). Full-text papers in English, exclusively studying DCM, published before 26 March 2020 were eligible for inclusion and were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool. Study sample characteristics, patient demographics, cohort type, HRQoL instrument utilised, HRQoL score, and relationships of HRQoL with other variables were qualitatively synthesised. RESULTS A total of 1176 papers were identified; 77 papers and 13,572 patients were included in the final analysis. A total of 96% of papers studied surgical cohorts and 86% utilised the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) as a measure of HRQoL. HRQoL determinants were grouped into nine themes. The most common determinant to be assessed was surgical technique (38/77, 49%) and patient satisfaction and experience of pain (10/77, 13%). HRQoL appeared to improve after surgery. Pain was a negative predictor of HRQoL. CONCLUSION Current data on the determinants of HRQoL in DCM are limited, contradictory and heterogeneous. Limitations of this systematic review include lack of distinction between DCM subtypes and heterogenous findings amongst the papers in which HRQoL is measured postoperatively or post-diagnosis. This highlights the need for greater standardisation in DCM research to allow further synthesis. Studies of greater precision are necessary to account for HRQoL being complex, multi-factorial and both time and context dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Hirayama
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Oliver D Mowforth
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Benjamin M Davies
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mark R N Kotter
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Toop N, Gifford CS, McGahan BG, Gibbs D, Miracle S, Schwab JM, Motiei-Langroudi R, Farhadi HF. Influence of clinical and radiological parameters on the likelihood of neurological improvement after surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy. J Neurosurg Spine 2023; 38:14-23. [PMID: 35986727 DOI: 10.3171/2022.6.spine2234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is routinely treated with surgical decompression, but disparate postoperative outcomes are frequently observed, ranging from complete neurological recovery to persistent decline. Although numerous clinical and radiological factors have been independently associated with failure to improve, the relative impact of these proposed risk factors remains obscure. In this study, the authors assess the combined role of clinical and radiographic parameters in contributing to failure to attain neurological improvement after surgery. METHODS A consecutive series of patients who underwent surgery for DCM between July 2013 and August 2018 at a single institution was identified from a prospectively maintained database. Retrospective chart review was undertaken to record perioperative clinical and radiographic parameters. Failure to improve on the last follow-up evaluation after surgery, defined as a change in modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) score less than 2, was the primary outcome in univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS The authors included 183 patients in the final cohort. In total, 109 (59.6%) patients improved (i.e., responders with ΔmJOA score ≥ 2) after surgery and 74 (40.4%) were nonresponders with ΔmJOA score < 2. Baseline demographic variables and comorbidity rates were similar, whereas baseline Nurick score was the only clinical variable that differed between responders and nonresponders (2.7 vs 3.0, p = 0.02). In contrast, several preoperative radiographic variables differed between the groups, including presence and degree of cervical kyphosis, number of levels with bidirectional cord compression, presence and number of levels with T2-weighted signal change, intramedullary lesion (IML) length, Torg ratio, and both narrowest spinal canal and cord diameter. On multivariate analysis, preoperative degree of kyphosis at C2-7 (OR 1.19, p = 0.004), number of levels with bidirectional compression (OR 1.83, p = 0.003), and IML length (OR 1.14, p < 0.001) demonstrated the highest predictive power for nonresponse (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.818). A risk factor point system that predicted failure of improvement was derived by incorporating these 3 variables. CONCLUSIONS When a large spectrum of both clinical and radiographic variables is considered, the degree of cervical kyphosis, number of levels with bidirectional compression, and IML length are the most predictive of nonresponse after surgery for DCM. Assessment of these radiographic factors can help guide surgical decision-making and more appropriately stratify patients in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel Toop
- 1Department of Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus; and
| | - Connor S Gifford
- 1Department of Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus; and
| | - Ben G McGahan
- 1Department of Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus; and
| | - David Gibbs
- 1Department of Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus; and
| | - Shelby Miracle
- 1Department of Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus; and
| | - Jan M Schwab
- 2Belford Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Rouzbeh Motiei-Langroudi
- 1Department of Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus; and
| | - H Francis Farhadi
- 1Department of Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus; and
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Sadeghmousavi S, Soltani Khaboushan A, Jafarnezhad-Ansariha F, Nejad-Gashti R, Farsi M, Esmaeil-Pour R, Alijani M, Majidi Zolbin M, Niknejad H, Kajbafzadeh AM. The role of spinal cord tractography in detecting lesions following selective bladder afferent and efferent fibers: A novel method for induction of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction in rabbit. Neurourol Urodyn 2022; 41:1539-1552. [PMID: 35842827 DOI: 10.1002/nau.25009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD), a challenging disorder, is defined by lack of bladder control due to the abnormalities in neural pathways and can be classified based on the location of lesions within the nervous system, thus investigating the neural pathways can help us to know the site of the lesion and specify the class of the NLUTD. Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) tractography, a noninvasive advanced imaging method, is capable of detecting central nervous system pathologies, even if routine magnetic resonance imaging shows no abnormality. Accordingly, tractography is an ideal technique to evaluate patients with NLUTD and visualize the pathology site within the spine. This study aimed to introduce a novel method of spinal cord injury (SCI) to establish NLUTD in the rabbit and to investigate the potential of tractography in tracing neural tracts of the spinal cord in an induced NLUTD animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS An animal model of NLUTD was induced through cauterization of the spinal cord at the level T12-L1 in 12 rabbits. Then rabbits were assessed via DTI, urodynamic studies (UDS), voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG), and pathology assessments using antineurofilament 200 (NF200) antibody, anti-S100, anti-Smooth Muscle Actin, anti-Myogenin, and anti-MyoD1. RESULTS The tractography visualized lesions within spinal cord fibers. DTI parameters including fractional anisotropy (FA) value and tract density were significantly decreased (FA: p-value = 0.01, Tract density: p-value = 0.05) after injury. The mean diffusivity (MD) was insignificantly increased compared to before the injury. Also, the results of UDS and pathology assessments corroborated that applying SCI and the establishment of the NLUTD model was completely successful. CONCLUSION In the present study, we investigated the auxiliary role of tractography in detecting the spinal cord lesions in the novel established rabbit model of NLUTD. The introduced method of NLUTD induction was without the leg's neurological deficit, easily applicable, low-cost, and was accompanied by minimal surgical preparation and a satisfactory survival rate in comparison with other SCI animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaghayegh Sadeghmousavi
- Pediatric Urology and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Section of Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells Therapy, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Pediatrics' Center of Excellence, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Soltani Khaboushan
- Pediatric Urology and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Section of Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells Therapy, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Pediatrics' Center of Excellence, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Students' Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fahimeh Jafarnezhad-Ansariha
- Pediatric Urology and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Section of Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells Therapy, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Pediatrics' Center of Excellence, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Nejad-Gashti
- Pediatric Urology and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Section of Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells Therapy, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Pediatrics' Center of Excellence, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Farsi
- Pediatric Urology and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Section of Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells Therapy, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Pediatrics' Center of Excellence, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Esmaeil-Pour
- Pediatric Urology and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Section of Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells Therapy, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Pediatrics' Center of Excellence, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Alijani
- Pediatric Urology and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Section of Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells Therapy, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Pediatrics' Center of Excellence, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoumeh Majidi Zolbin
- Pediatric Urology and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Section of Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells Therapy, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Pediatrics' Center of Excellence, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hassan Niknejad
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abdol-Mohammad Kajbafzadeh
- Pediatric Urology and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Section of Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells Therapy, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Pediatrics' Center of Excellence, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Pediatric Urology and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Gene, Cell and Tissue Research Institute, Childern's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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6
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Han X, Ma X, Li D, Wang J, Jiang W, Li G, Cheng X, Guo H, Tian W. Application of Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging to Evaluate and Predict the Surgical Outcome for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy. Orthop Surg 2022; 14:1482-1488. [PMID: 35686537 PMCID: PMC9251269 DOI: 10.1111/os.13326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Although the neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) has been shown useful to evaluate the spinal cord dysfunction, there are few prospective studies on analyzing the operation recovery of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) disease using NODDI. This study aims to investigate the preoperative evaluation and predictive ability of NODDI in DCM patients who received posterior cervical laminoplasty. Methods This prospective study included 55 patients with DCM from January to December 2017. NODDI metrics, including intracellular volume fraction (Vic), isotropic volume fraction (Viso), and orientation dispersion index (ODI) were measured at the maximally compressed (MC) level and the non‐compressed C2 level in each patient at the preoperative and the 3‐ and 6‐month postoperative follow‐up stages. Neurological function was assessed using the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) scoring system at each stage. Spearman's correlation and Kendall's tau‐b correlation were used to analyze the relationship between NODDI metrics and mJOA scores. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to examine the changes in the NODDI and mJOA scores between the preoperative and 6‐month follow‐up stages. ROC analysis was used to further evaluate the predictive capability. Results Preoperative Vic at the level of C2 has a significant correlation with the preoperative mJOA score (r = 0.278, p = 0.048). Vic and Viso at the MC level were significantly different between the preoperative period and 6‐month follow‐up. Viso at the MC level was correlated with the mJOA score at 6‐month follow‐up (r = −0.302, p = 0.044). Vic and ODI at the C2 level predicted the surgical prognosis, with areas under the receiver‐operating characteristic curve of 0.663 (p = 0.042) and 0.716 (p = 0.014). Conclusions The preoperative NODDI metrics at the C2 level are capable of evaluating the severity of spinal cord dysfunction and predict the surgical outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Han
- Department of Spine Surgery, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing, China.,Beijing Research Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaodong Ma
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Donghang Li
- Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Beijing, China
| | - Jinchao Wang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wen Jiang
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Guangqi Li
- Center for Biomedical Imaging Research, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoguang Cheng
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Hua Guo
- Center for Biomedical Imaging Research, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Tian
- Department of Spine Surgery, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing, China
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Martin AR, Tetreault L, Nouri A, Curt A, Freund P, Rahimi-Movaghar V, Wilson JR, Fehlings MG, Kwon BK, Harrop JS, Davies BM, Kotter MRN, Guest JD, Aarabi B, Kurpad SN. Imaging and Electrophysiology for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy [AO Spine RECODE-DCM Research Priority Number 9]. Global Spine J 2022; 12:130S-146S. [PMID: 34797993 PMCID: PMC8859711 DOI: 10.1177/21925682211057484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Narrative review. OBJECTIVE The current review aimed to describe the role of existing techniques and emerging methods of imaging and electrophysiology for the management of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM), a common and often progressive condition that causes spinal cord dysfunction and significant morbidity globally. METHODS A narrative review was conducted to summarize the existing literature and highlight future directions. RESULTS Anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is well established in the literature as the key imaging tool to identify spinal cord compression, disc herniation/bulging, and inbuckling of the ligamentum flavum, thus facilitating surgical planning, while radiographs and computed tomography (CT) provide complimentary information. Electrophysiology techniques are primarily used to rule out competing diagnoses. However, signal change and measures of cord compression on conventional MRI have limited utility to characterize the degree of tissue injury, which may be helpful for diagnosis, prognostication, and repeated assessments to identify deterioration. Early translational studies of quantitative imaging and electrophysiology techniques show potential of these methods to more accurately reflect changes in spinal cord microstructure and function. CONCLUSION Currently, clinical management of DCM relies heavily on anatomical MRI, with additional contributions from radiographs, CT, and electrophysiology. Novel quantitative assessments of microstructure, perfusion, and function have the potential to transform clinical practice, but require robust validation, automation, and standardization prior to uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan R. Martin
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Lindsay Tetreault
- Department of Neurology, New York University, Langone Health, Graduate Medical Education, New York, NY, USA
| | - Aria Nouri
- Division of Neurosurgery, Geneva University Hospitals, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Armin Curt
- University Spine Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Freund
- University Spine Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Vafa Rahimi-Movaghar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jefferson R. Wilson
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael G. Fehlings
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Brian K. Kwon
- Vancouver Spine Surgery Institute, Department of Orthopedics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - James S. Harrop
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | - James D. Guest
- Department of Neurosurgery and The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, The Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Bizhan Aarabi
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Shekar N Kurpad
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, WI, USA
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8
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Zhang H, Wang C, Wang D, Zhou C, Zhu K, Tu Q, Kong M, Zhao C, Ma X. Predictive Risk Factors of Poor Preliminary Postoperative Outcome for Thoracic Ossification of the Ligamentum Flavum. Orthop Surg 2020; 13:408-416. [PMID: 33314773 PMCID: PMC7957384 DOI: 10.1111/os.12884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The aim of the present study was to ascertain the independent risk factors of poor preliminary outcome and to reveal the value of these factors in predicting the postoperative prognosis. Methods A total of 165 patients diagnosed with thoracic myelopathy because of thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (TOLF) were enrolled in this retrospective study. All of them underwent posterior decompressive laminectomy surgery in our hospital from May 2016 to June 2019. The postoperative improvement of symptoms was evaluated using the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) scoring system. Clinical data, such as age, sex, body mass index (BMI), duration of symptoms, history of hypertension and diabetes, tobacco use, history of drinking, symptoms of incontinence, number of compressed segments, and preoperative mJOA score, were respectively recorded. Radiologic features data included sagittal maximum spinal cord compression (MSCC), axial spinal canal occupation ratio (SCOR), grades and extension of increased signal on sagittal T2‐weighted images (ISST2I), types of increased signal on axial T2‐weighted images (ISAT2I), and the classification of ossification on axial CT scan and sagittal MRI. The t‐test, the χ2‐test, Fisher's exact test, binary logistic regression analyses, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and subgroup analyses were used to evaluate the effects of individual risk predictors on surgical outcomes. Results A total of 76 men and 89 women were enrolled in this study. The mean age of all patients was 58.53 years. After comparison between two groups, we found some risk factors that may be associated with postoperative outcomes, such as age, preoperative mJOA score, BMI, history of hypertension, MSCC, SCOR, grade and extension of ISST2I, type of ISAT2I, axial type of ossification, and sagittal type of ossification (P < 0.05, respectively). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that older age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.062, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.006–1.121, P = 0.030), number of compressed segments (OR = 1.916, 95% CI = 1.250–2.937, P = 0.003), bilateral and bridged types of ossification (OR = 4 314, 95% CI = 1.454–8.657, P = 0.019; OR = 6.630, 95% CI = 2.580–17.530, P = 0.004), and grade 1 and 2 ISST2I (OR = 8.986, 95% CI =3.056–20.294, P < 0.001; OR = 7.552, 95% CI = 3.529–16.004, P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for a poor preliminary postoperative outcome. ROC curve analysis showed that the grade of ISST2I had an excellent discriminative power (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.817). In addition, risk factors have different values for predicting the clinical outcome in each subgroup. Conclusion Age, duration of symptoms, number of compressed segments, SCOR, grade, and extension of ISST2I and classification of ossification were associated with the preliminary prognosis, and the intramedullary increased signal on sagittal T2‐weighted MRI was highly predictive of poor postoperative outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Zhang
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Chao Wang
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Dexun Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The West Coast of Qingdao New District People's Hospital, Qingdao, China
| | - Chuanli Zhou
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Kai Zhu
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Qihao Tu
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Meng Kong
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Chong Zhao
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xuexiao Ma
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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Analysis of the impact of spinopelvic radiographic parameters on the severity of cervical spondylotic myelopathy. J Orthop Sci 2020; 25:966-974. [PMID: 32063467 DOI: 10.1016/j.jos.2020.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Revised: 12/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The correlation between spinal radiographic parameters and severity of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is controversial. This study aimed to investigate the associations between spinal radiographic parameters and CSM severity, as well as between cervical and other spinopelvic radiographic parameters. METHODS Patients diagnosed with CSM (N = 118; 77 men) at our hospital from March 2013 to February 2017 were included. The patients' demographic data and the following radiographic parameters were investigated: cervical lordosis (CL), C2-C7 sagittal vertical axis (C2-C7 SVA), T1 slope, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, pelvic incidence, sacral slope, pelvic tilt, and sagittal vertical axis (SVA). Cervical cord compression ratio (CCCR) was evaluated on sagittal magnetic resonance imaging. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scoring system was used for clinical evaluation. Correlation analyses were performed among the clinical and radiographic parameters. RESULTS The JOA score had the strongest correlation with SVA (r = -0.46, p < 0.01), followed by CCCR (r = -0.33, p < 0.01), CL (r = -0.29, p < 0.01), T1 slope (r = -0.29, p = 0.01), and C2-C7 SVA (r = -0.20, p = 0.03). Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed a model predicting the JOA score; JOA = 13.6 - 0.24 × SVA - 4.2 × CCCR (r = 0.51, p < 0.01). Although there was no significant correlation between the cervical and lumbopelvic radiographic parameters, the sequential correlation among the investigated spinopelvic parameters was identified. CONCLUSIONS CSM severity worsened with spinal malalignment, such as a larger SVA. Though lumbopelvic radiographic parameters did not significantly impact cervical alignment and CSM severity, the sequential correlations among cervical-thoracic-lumbopelvic radiographic parameters were observed. Therefore, SVA is the most relevant radiographic parameter for CSM, but we cannot preclude the possibility that lumbopelvic alignment also affects cervical alignment and CSM severity.
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The Functional Relevance of Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Patients with Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9061828. [PMID: 32545316 PMCID: PMC7355923 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9061828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: In addition to conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has been investigated as a potential diagnostic and predictive tool for patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). In this preliminary study, we evaluated the use of quantitative DTI in the clinical practice as a possible measure to correlate with upper limbs function. (2) Methods: A total of 11 patients were enrolled in this prospective observational study. Fractional anisotropy (FA) values was extracted from DTI data before and after surgery using a GE Signa 1.5 T MRI scanner. The Nine-Hole Peg Test and a digital dynamometer were used to measure dexterity and hand strength, respectively. (3) Results: We found a significant increase of FA values after surgery, in particular below the most compressed level (p = 0.044) as well as an improvement in postoperative dexterity and hand strength. Postoperative FA values moderately correlate with hand dexterity (r = 0.4272, R2 = 0.0735, p = 0.19 for the right hand; r = 0.2087, R2 = 0.2265, p = 0.53 for the left hand). (4) Conclusion: FA may be used as a marker of myelopathy and could represent a promising diagnostic value in patients affected by DCM. Surgical decompression can improve the clinical outcome of these patients, especially in terms of the control of finger-hand coordination and dexterity.
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Zileli M, Maheshwari S, Kale SS, Garg K, Menon SK, Parthiban J. Outcome Measures and Variables Affecting Prognosis of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: WFNS Spine Committee Recommendations. Neurospine 2019; 16:435-447. [PMID: 31607075 PMCID: PMC6790741 DOI: 10.14245/ns.1938196.098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
This study is conducted to review the literature systematically to determine most reliable outcome measures, important clinical and radiological variables affecting the prognosis in cervical spondylotic myelopathy patients. A literature search was performed for articles published during the last 10 years. As functional outcome measures we recommend to use modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale, Nurick’s grade, and Myelopathy Disability Index. Three clinical variables that affect the outcomes are age, duration of symptoms, and severity of the myelopathy. Examination findings require more detailed study to validate their effect on the outcomes. The predictive variables affecting the outcomes are hand atrophy, leg spasticity, clonus, and Babinski’s sign. Among the radiological variables, the curvature of the cervical spine is the most important predictor of prognosis. Patients with instability are expected to have a poor surgical outcome. Spinal cord compression ratio is a critical factor for prognosis. High signal intensity on T2-weighted magnetic resonance images is a negative predictor for prognosis. The most important predictors of outcome are preoperative severity and duration of symptoms. T2 hyperintensity and cord compression ratio can also predict outcomes. New radiological tests may give promising results in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Zileli
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Shradha Maheshwari
- Department of Neurosurgery, LTMG Hospital & LTM Medical College, Mumbai, India
| | | | | | | | - Jutty Parthiban
- Department Neurosurgery and Spine Unit, Kovai Medical Center and Hospital, Tamilnadu, India
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Zileli M, Borkar SA, Sinha S, Reinas R, Alves ÓL, Kim SH, Pawar S, Murali B, Parthiban J. Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: Natural Course and the Value of Diagnostic Techniques -WFNS Spine Committee Recommendations. Neurospine 2019; 16:386-402. [PMID: 31607071 PMCID: PMC6790728 DOI: 10.14245/ns.1938240.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective This study presents the results of a systematic literature review conducted to determine most up-to-date information on the natural outcome of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and the most reliable diagnostic techniques.
Methods A literature search was performed for articles published during the last 10 years.
Results The natural course of patients with cervical stenosis and signs of myelopathy is quite variable. In patients with no symptoms, but significant stenosis, the risk of developing myelopathy with cervical stenosis is approximately 3% per year. Myelopathic signs are useful for the clinical diagnosis of CSM. However, they are not highly sensitive and may be absent in approximately one-fifth of patients with myelopathy. The electrophysiological tests to be used in CSM patients are motor evoked potential (MEP), spinal cord evoked potential, somatosensory evoked potential, and electromyography (EMG). The differential diagnosis of CSM from other neurological conditions can be accomplished by those tests. MEP and EMG monitoring are useful to reduce C5 root palsy during CSM surgery. Notable spinal cord T2 hyperintensity on cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is correlated with a worse outcome, whereas lighter signal changes may predict better outcomes. T1 hypointensity should be considered a sign of more advanced disease.
Conclusion The natural course of CSM is quite variable. Signal changes on MRI and some electrophysiological tests are valuable adjuncts to diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Zileli
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Sachin A Borkar
- Department of Neurosurgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Sumit Sinha
- Neurosurgery and Spine Services, Paras Hospitals, Gurugram, India
| | - Rui Reinas
- Neurosurgical Department, Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho, Hospital Lusíadas, Porto, Portugal
| | - Óscar L Alves
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Lusíadas, Porto, Portugal
| | - Se-Hoon Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | | | - Bala Murali
- Kauvery Advanced Spine Centre, Chennai, India
| | - Jutty Parthiban
- Department Neurosurgery and Spine Unit, Kovai Medical Center and Hospital, Tamilnadu, India
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Chen YC, Kuo CH, Cheng CM, Wu JC. Recent advances in the management of cervical spondylotic myelopathy: bibliometric analysis and surgical perspectives. J Neurosurg Spine 2019; 31:299-309. [DOI: 10.3171/2019.5.spine18769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVECervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) has become a prevalent cause of spinal cord dysfunction among the aging population worldwide. Although great strides have been made in spine surgery in past decades, the optimal timing and surgical strategy to treat CSM have remained controversial. In this article the authors aimed to analyze the current trends in studies of CSM and to summarize the recent advances of surgical techniques in its treatment.METHODSThe PubMed database was searched using the keywords pertaining to CSM in human studies that were published between 1975 and 2018. Analyses of both the bibliometrics and contents, including the types of papers, authors, affiliations and countries, number of patients, and the surgical approaches were conducted. A systematic review of the literature was also performed with emphasis on the diagnosis and treatment of mild CSM.RESULTSA total of 1008 papers published during the span of 44 years were analyzed. These CSM studies mainly focused on the natural history, diagnosis, and treatment, and only a few prospective randomized trials were reported. For the authors and affiliations, there was a shift of clustering of papers toward Asian countries in the past decades. Regarding the treatment for CSM, there was an exponential growth of surgical series published, and there was a trend toward slightly more anterior than posterior approaches through the past decade. Patients with CSM had increased risks of neurological deterioration or spinal cord injury with nonoperative management. Because surgery might reduce the risks, and early surgery was likely to be correlated with better outcomes, there was a trend toward attention to mildly symptomatic CSM.CONCLUSIONSThere is emerging enthusiasm for research on CSM worldwide, with more publications originating in Asian countries over the past few decades. The surgical management of CSM is evolving continuously toward early and anterior approaches. More prospective investigations on the optimal timing and choices of surgery are therefore needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chun Chen
- 1School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei
- 2Department of Family Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital
- 3Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei
| | - Chao-Hung Kuo
- 1School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei
- 4Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital; and
- 5Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chieh-Ming Cheng
- 4Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital; and
| | - Jau-Ching Wu
- 1School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei
- 4Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital; and
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Davies BM, Munro CF, Kotter MR. A Novel Insight Into the Challenges of Diagnosing Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy Using Web-Based Symptom Checkers. J Med Internet Res 2019; 21:e10868. [PMID: 30300137 PMCID: PMC6330198 DOI: 10.2196/10868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Revised: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a common debilitating condition resulting from degeneration of the cervical spine. While decompressive surgery can halt disease progression, existing spinal cord damage is often permanent, leaving patients with lifelong disability. Early surgery improves the likelihood of recovery, yet the average time from the onset of symptoms to correct diagnosis is over 2 years. The majority of delays occur initially, before and within primary care, mainly due to a lack of recognition. Symptom checkers are widely used by patients before medical consultation and can be useful for preliminary triage and diagnosis. Lack of recognition of DCM by symptom checkers may contribute to the delay in diagnosis. Objective The aims of this study were to investigate whether Web-based symptom checkers were able to recognize relevant symptoms of DCM, to characterize the DCM differential they returned , and to evaluate the diagnostic performance of recognized DCM symptoms. Methods We pooled classical DCM symptoms from leading review articles. These symptoms were entered into the algorithms used by the top 20 symptom checker websites (N=4; Google Search). The most widely cited symptom checker, WebMD, was used to characterize the differential diagnosis for DCM symptoms. Results A total of 31 classical DCM symptoms were identified, of which 45% (14/31) listed DCM as a differential and 10% (3/31) placed DCM in the top third of the differential. The mean differential rank for motor symptoms was significantly better than that for arthritic symptoms (P=.01) and the average differential rank for all symptoms (P=.048). The symptom checker WebMD performed best at recognizing DCM, placing the condition nearer to the top of the differential list (mean rank of 5.6) than either Healthline (rank of 12.9, P=.02) or Healthtools.AARP (rank of 15.5, P=.001). On WebMD, only one combination of symptoms resulted in DCM as the primary differential: neck, shoulder, and arm pain with hand weakness. Moreover, 151 differential diagnoses for DCM symptoms were recorded on WebMD. Multiple sclerosis and peripheral neuropathy were the most common differentials, shortlisted for 52% (16/31) and 32% (10/31) of the DCM symptoms, respectively. Conclusions DCM symptoms are poorly identified by Web-based symptom checkers, which leads to a large differential of many other common conditions. While a diagnosis becomes more likely as the number of symptoms increases, this represents more advanced disease and will not support much-needed earlier diagnosis. Symptom checkers remain an attractive concept with potential. Further research is required to support their optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Marshall Davies
- Academic Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Colin Fraser Munro
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Rn Kotter
- Academic Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Wellcome-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Hilton B, Tempest-Mitchell J, Davies B, Kotter M. Assessment of degenerative cervical myelopathy differs between specialists and may influence time to diagnosis and clinical outcomes. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0207709. [PMID: 30557368 PMCID: PMC6296508 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy [DCM] often presents with non-specific symptoms and signs. It progresses insidiously and leads to permanent neurological dysfunction. Decompressive surgery can halt disease progression, however significant delays in diagnosis result in increased disability and limit recovery. The nature of early DCM symptoms is unknown, moreover it has been suggested incomplete examination contributes to missed diagnosis. This study examines how DCM is currently assessed, if assessment differs between stages of healthcare, and whether this influences patient management. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. METHODS Cervical MRI scans (N = 1123) at a tertiary neurosciences center, over a single year, were screened for patients with DCM (N = 43). Signs, symptoms, and disease severity of DCM were extracted from patient records. Patients were considered at 3 phases of clinical assessment: primary care, secondary care, and surgical assessment. RESULTS Upper limb paraesthesia and urinary dysfunction were consistently the most and least prevalent symptoms respectively. Differences between assessing clinicians were present in the reporting of: limb pain (p<0.005), objective limb weakness (p = 0.01), hyperreflexia (p<0.005), Hoffmann reflex (p<0.005), extensor plantar reflex (p = 0.007), and lower limb spasticity (p<0.005). Pathological reflexes were least frequently assessed by primary care doctors. CONCLUSION DCM assessment varies significantly between assessors. Reporting of key features of DCM is especially low in primary care. Incomplete assessment may hinder early diagnosis and referral to spinal surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryn Hilton
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Benjamin Davies
- Academic Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosurgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Kotter
- Academic Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosurgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Piazza M, McShane BJ, Ramayya AG, Sullivan PZ, Ali ZS, Marcotte PJ, Welch WC, Ozturk AK. Posterior Cervical Laminectomy Results in Better Radiographic Decompression of Spinal Cord Compared with Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion. World Neurosurg 2018; 110:e362-e366. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2017.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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17
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Schroeder J, Salzmann SN, Hughes AP, Beckman JD, Shue J, Girardi FP. Emergent reintubation following elective cervical surgery: A case series. World J Orthop 2017; 8:465-470. [PMID: 28660138 PMCID: PMC5478489 DOI: 10.5312/wjo.v8.i6.465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2017] [Revised: 04/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To review cases of emergent reintubation after cervical surgery.
METHODS Patients who were emergently intubated in the post-operative period following cervical surgery were identified. The patients’ prospectively documented demographic parameters, medical history and clinical symptoms were ascertained. Pre-operative radiographs were examined for the extent of their pathology. The details of the operative procedure were discerned.
RESULTS Eight hundred and eighty patients received anterior- or combined anterior-posterior cervical surgery from 2008-2013. Nine patients (1.02%) required emergent reintubation. The interval between extubation to reintubation was 6.2 h [1-12]. Patients were kept intubated after reintubation for 2.3 d [2-3]. Seven patients displayed moderate postoperative edema. One patient was diagnosed with a compressive hematoma which was subsequently evacuated in the OR. Another patient was diagnosed with a pulmonary effusion and treated with diuretics. One patient received a late debridement for an infected hematoma. Six patients reported residual symptoms and three patients made a complete recovery.
CONCLUSION Respiratory compromise is a rare but potentially life threatening complication following cervical surgery. Patients at increased risk should be monitored closely for extended periods of time post-operatively. If the airway is restored adequately in a timely manner through emergent re-intubation, the outcome of the patients is generally favorable.
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Nouri A, Martin AR, Mikulis D, Fehlings MG. Magnetic resonance imaging assessment of degenerative cervical myelopathy: a review of structural changes and measurement techniques. Neurosurg Focus 2017; 40:E5. [PMID: 27246488 DOI: 10.3171/2016.3.focus1667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Degenerative cervical myelopathy encompasses a spectrum of age-related structural changes of the cervical spine that result in static and dynamic injury to the spinal cord and collectively represent the most common cause of myelopathy in adults. Although cervical myelopathy is determined clinically, the diagnosis requires confirmation via imaging, and MRI is the preferred modality. Because of the heterogeneity of the condition and evolution of MRI technology, multiple techniques have been developed over the years in an attempt to quantify the degree of baseline severity and potential for neurological recovery. In this review, these techniques are categorized anatomically into those that focus on bone, ligaments, discs, and the spinal cord. In addition, measurements for the cervical spine canal size and sagittal alignment are also described briefly. These tools have resulted collectively in the identification of numerous useful parameters. However, the development of multiple techniques for assessing the same feature, such as cord compression, has also resulted in a number of challenges, including introducing ambiguity in terms of which methods to use and hindering effective comparisons of analysis in the literature. In addition, newer techniques that use advanced MRI are emerging and providing exciting new tools for assessing the spinal cord in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aria Nouri
- Divisions of 1 Neurosurgery and Spine Program and.,Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Allan R Martin
- Divisions of 1 Neurosurgery and Spine Program and.,Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - David Mikulis
- Brain Imaging & Behaviour Systems, University of Toronto; and.,Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael G Fehlings
- Divisions of 1 Neurosurgery and Spine Program and.,Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Sun LQ, Li M, Li YM. Predictors for Surgical Outcome of Laminoplasty for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy. World Neurosurg 2016; 94:89-96. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2016.06.092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Revised: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Nouri A, Tetreault L, Dalzell K, Zamorano JJ, Fehlings MG. The Relationship Between Preoperative Clinical Presentation and Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features in Patients With Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy. Neurosurgery 2016; 80:121-128. [DOI: 10.1227/neu.0000000000001420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 06/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Degenerative cervical myelopathy encompasses a group of conditions resulting in progressive spinal cord injury through static and dynamic compression. Although a constellation of changes can present on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the clinical significance of these findings remains a subject of controversy and discussion.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between clinical presentation and quantitative MRI features in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy.
METHODS: A secondary analysis of MRI and clinical data from 114 patients enrolled in a prospective, multicenter study was conducted. MRIs were assessed for maximum spinal cord compression (MSCC), maximum canal compromise (MCC), signal changes, and a signal change ratio (SCR). MRI features were compared between patients with and those without myelopathy symptoms with the use of t tests. Correlations between MRI features and duration of symptoms were assessed with the Spearman ρ.
RESULTS: Numb hands and Hoffmann sign were associated with greater MSCC (P < .05); broad-based, unstable gait, impairment of gait, and Hoffmann sign were associated with greater MCC (P < .05); and numb hands, Hoffmann sign, Babinski sign, lower limb spasticity, hyperreflexia, and T1 hypointensity were associated with greater SCR (P < .05). Patients with a T2 signal hyperintensity had greater MSCC and MCC (P < .001).
CONCLUSION: MSCC was associated with upper limb manifestations, and SCR was associated with upper limb, lower limb, and general neurological deficits. Hoffmann sign occurred more commonly in patients with a greater MSCC, MCC and SCR. The Lhermitte phenomenon presented more commonly in patients with a lower SCR and may be an early indicator of mild spinal cord involvement. Research to validate these findings is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aria Nouri
- Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lindsay Tetreault
- Toronto Western Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kristian Dalzell
- Christchurch Public Hospital & Burwood Spinal Unit, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Juan J. Zamorano
- Department of Orthopedics, Hospital del Trabajador de Santiago, Santiago, Chile
| | - Michael G. Fehlings
- Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Wang K, Wang WT, Wang J, Chen Z, Song QX, Chen SY, Hao Q, He DW, Shen HX. Compared study of routine magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor tractography on the predictive value of diagnosis and prognosis in acute cervical spinal cord injury. JOURNAL OF ACUTE DISEASE 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.joad.2016.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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Spinal Disorders as a Cause of Locomotive Syndrome: The Influence on Functional Mobility and Activities of Daily Living. Clin Rev Bone Miner Metab 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s12018-016-9213-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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