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Tetreault L, Kalsi-Ryan S, Benjamin Davies, Nanna-Lohkamp L, Garwood P, Martin AR, Wilson JR, Harrop JS, Guest JD, Kwon BK, Milligan J, Arizala AM, Kotter MR, Fehlings MG. Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A Practical Approach to Diagnosis. Global Spine J 2022; 12:1881-1893. [PMID: 35043715 PMCID: PMC9609530 DOI: 10.1177/21925682211072847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Narrative Review. OBJECTIVES The objective of this review is to provide a stepwise approach to the assessment of patients with potential symptoms of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). METHODS N/A. RESULTS DCM is an overarching term used to describe progressive compression of the cervical spinal cord by age-related changes to the spinal axis. These alterations to normal anatomy narrow the spinal canal, reduce the space available for the spinal cord, and may ultimately compress the ascending and descending neural tracts. Patients with DCM present with a wide range of symptoms that can significantly impact quality of life, including bilateral hand numbness and paresthesia, gait impairment, motor weakness of the upper and lower extremities, and bladder and bowel dysfunction. Unfortunately, DCM is often misdiagnosed, resulting in delayed assessment and management by the appropriate specialist. The proper evaluation of a patient with suspected DCM includes obtaining a detailed patient history, conducting a comprehensive neurological examination, and ordering appropriate tests to rule in or out other diagnoses. CONCLUSION This review summarizes a stepwise approach to the diagnosis of patients with DCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay Tetreault
- Division of Neurology, Graduate
Medical Education, New York University
Langone, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Benjamin Davies
- Department of Academic
Neurosurgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Laura Nanna-Lohkamp
- Division of Neurosurgery,
Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada,Division of Neurosurgery, Spinal
Program, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health
Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Philip Garwood
- Internal Medicine Resident,
Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Allan R. Martin
- Spine Neurosurgery, University of California
Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Jefferson R. Wilson
- Division of Neurosurgery,
Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - James S. Harrop
- Departments of Neurological and
Orthopedic Surgery, Thomas Jefferson
University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - James D. Guest
- The Miami Project to Cure
Paralysis, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Brian K. Kwon
- Department, of Orthopaedics, University of British
Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - James Milligan
- Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | | | - Mark R. Kotter
- Department of Academic
Neurosurgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Michael G. Fehlings
- Division of Neurosurgery,
Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada,Division of Neurosurgery, Spinal
Program, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health
Network, Toronto, ON, Canada,Michael G. Fehlings, MD, PhD, FRCSC, FACS,
Division of Neurosurgery and Spinal Program, Department of Surgery, University
of Toronto, Krembil Neuroscience Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst
Street, Suite 4WW-449, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada.
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Tetreault L, Garwood P, Gharooni AA, Touzet AY, Nanna-Lohkamp L, Martin A, Wilson J, Harrop JS, Guest J, Kwon BK, Milligan J, Arizala AM, Riew KD, Fehlings MG, Kotter MRN, Kalsi-Ryan S, Davies BM. Improving Assessment of Disease Severity and Strategies for Monitoring Progression in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy [AO Spine RECODE-DCM Research Priority Number 4]. Global Spine J 2022; 12:64S-77S. [PMID: 34971524 PMCID: PMC8859700 DOI: 10.1177/21925682211063854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Narrative Review. OBJECTIVE To (i) discuss why assessment and monitoring of disease progression is critical in Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM); (ii) outline the important features of an ideal assessment tool and (iii) discuss current and novel strategies for detecting subtle deterioration in DCM. METHODS Literature review. RESULTS Degenerative cervical myelopathy is an overarching term used to describe progressive injury to the cervical spinal cord by age-related changes of the spinal axis. Based on a study by Smith et al (2020), the prevalence of DCM is approximately 2.3% and is expected to rise as the global population ages. Given the global impact of this disease, it is essential to address important knowledge gaps and prioritize areas for future investigation. As part of the AO Spine RECODE-DCM (Research Objectives and Common Data Elements for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy) project, a priority setting partnership was initiated to increase research efficiency by identifying the top ten research priorities for DCM. One of the top ten priorities for future DCM research was: What assessment tools can be used to evaluate functional impairment, disability and quality of life in people with DCM? What instruments, tools or methods can be used or developed to monitor people with DCM for disease progression or improvement either before or after surgical treatment? CONCLUSIONS With the increasing prevalence of DCM, effective surveillance of this population will require both the implementation of a monitoring framework as well as the development of new assessment tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay Tetreault
- Department of Neurology, Langone Health, Graduate Medical Education, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Philip Garwood
- Graduate Medical Education, Internal Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Aref-Ali Gharooni
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Laura Nanna-Lohkamp
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Allan Martin
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Jefferson Wilson
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - James S. Harrop
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - James Guest
- Department of Neurosurgery and The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, The Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Brian K. Kwon
- Vancouver Spine Surgery Institute, Department of Orthopedics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - James Milligan
- McMaster University Department of Family Medicine, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Alberto Martinez Arizala
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, The Miller School of Medicine University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - K. Daniel Riew
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Och Spine Hospital at New York-Presbyterian, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael G. Fehlings
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Sukhvinder Kalsi-Ryan
- KITE Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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