Trajectory of Improvement in Myelopathic Symptoms From 3 to 12 Months Following Surgery for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy

Neurosurgery ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 86 (6) ◽  
pp. 763-768
Author(s):  
Inamullah Khan ◽  
Kristin R Archer ◽  
John Paul Wanner ◽  
Mohamad Bydon ◽  
Jacquelyn S Pennings ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Myelopathy ◽  
Elective Surgery ◽  
Japanese Orthopaedic Association ◽  
Cord Compression ◽  
Cervical Cord ◽  
Multivariable Logistic Regression Model ◽  
Quality Outcomes ◽  
Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy ◽  
Postoperative Improvement

Abstract BACKGROUND Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a progressive disease resulting from cervical cord compression. The modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) is commonly used to grade myelopathic symptoms, but its persistent postoperative improvement has not been previously explored. OBJECTIVE To utilize the Quality Outcomes Database (QOD) to evaluate the trajectory of outcomes in those operatively treated for DCM. METHODS This study is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. The QOD was queried for patients undergoing elective surgery for DCM. Patients were divided into mild (≥14), moderate (9-13), or severe (<9) categories for their baseline severity of myelopathic symptoms (mJOA scores). A parsimonious multivariable logistic regression model was fitted with 2 points improvement on mJOA from 3- to 12-mo follow-up as the outcome of interest. RESULTS A total of 2156 patients who underwent elective surgery for DCM and had complete 3- and 12-mo follow-up were included in our analysis. Patients improved significantly from baseline to 3-mo on their mJOA scores, regardless of their baseline mJOA severity. After adjusting for the relevant preoperative characteristics, the baseline mJOA categories had significant impact on outcome of whether a patient keeps improving in mJOA score from 3 to 12 mo postsurgery. Patient with severe mJOA score at baseline had a higher likelihood of improvement in their myelopathic symptoms, compared to patients with mild mJOA score in. CONCLUSION Most patients achieve improvement on a shorter follow-up; however, patients with severe symptoms keep on improving until after a longer follow-up. Preoperative identification of such patients helps the clinician settling realistic expectations for each follow-up timepoint.

scholarly journals Walk and Run Test in Patients with Degenerative Compression of the Cervical Spinal Cord

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 927
Author(s):  
Zdenek Kadanka ◽  
Zdenek Kadanka ◽  
Tomas Skutil ◽  
Eva Vlckova ◽  
Josef Bednarik
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Spinal Cord ◽  
Japanese Orthopaedic Association ◽  
Cord Compression ◽  
Cervical Cord ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Severity Of Disability ◽  
Degree Of Disability ◽  
Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy ◽  
Cardinal Symptoms ◽  
Run Test

Impaired gait is one of the cardinal symptoms of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) and frequently its initial presentation. Quantitative gait analysis is therefore a promising objective tool in the disclosure of early cervical cord impairment in patients with degenerative cervical compression. The aim of this cross-sectional observational cohort study was to verify whether an objective and easily-used walk and run test is capable of detecting early gait impairment in a practical proportion of non-myelopathic degenerative cervical cord compression (NMDCC) patients and of revealing any correlation with severity of disability in DCM. The study group consisted of 45 DCM patients (median age 58 years), 126 NMDCC subjects (59 years), and 100 healthy controls (HC) (55.5 years), all of whom performed a standardized 10-m walk and run test. Walking/running time/velocity, number of steps and cadence of walking/running were recorded; analysis disclosed abnormalities in 66.7% of NMDCC subjects. The DCM group exhibited significantly more pronounced abnormalities in all walk/run parameters when compared with the NMDCC group. These were apparent in 84.4% of the DCM group and correlated closely with disability as quantified by the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale. A standardized 10-m walk/run test has the capacity to disclose locomotion abnormalities in NMDCC subjects who lack other clear myelopathic signs and may provide a means of classifying DCM patients according to their degree of disability.

scholarly journals A Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Patients With Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Recommendations for Patients With Mild, Moderate, and Severe Disease and Nonmyelopathic Patients With Evidence of Cord Compression

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 70S-83S ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael G. Fehlings ◽  
Lindsay A. Tetreault ◽  
K. Daniel Riew ◽  
James W. Middleton ◽  
Bizhan Aarabi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Myelopathy ◽  
Surgical Intervention ◽  
Guideline Development ◽  
Cord Compression ◽  
Operative Intervention ◽  
Prophylactic Surgery ◽  
Cervical Cord ◽  
Duration Of Symptoms ◽  
Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy ◽  
The Impact

Study Design: Guideline development. Objectives: The objective of this study is to develop guidelines that outline how to best manage (1) patients with mild, moderate, and severe myelopathy and (2) nonmyelopathic patients with evidence of cord compression with or without clinical symptoms of radiculopathy. Methods: Five systematic reviews of the literature were conducted to synthesize evidence on disease natural history; risk factors of disease progression; the efficacy, effectiveness, and safety of nonoperative and surgical management; the impact of preoperative duration of symptoms and myelopathy severity on treatment outcomes; and the frequency, timing, and predictors of symptom development. A multidisciplinary guideline development group used this information, and their clinical expertise, to develop recommendations for the management of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). Results: Our recommendations were as follows: (1) “We recommend surgical intervention for patients with moderate and severe DCM.” (2) “We suggest offering surgical intervention or a supervised trial of structured rehabilitation for patients with mild DCM. If initial nonoperative management is pursued, we recommend operative intervention if there is neurological deterioration and suggest operative intervention if the patient fails to improve.” (3) “We suggest not offering prophylactic surgery for non-myelopathic patients with evidence of cervical cord compression without signs or symptoms of radiculopathy. We suggest that these patients be counseled as to potential risks of progression, educated about relevant signs and symptoms of myelopathy, and be followed clinically.” (4) “Non-myelopathic patients with cord compression and clinical evidence of radiculopathy with or without electrophysiological confirmation are at a higher risk of developing myelopathy and should be counselled about this risk. We suggest offering either surgical intervention or nonoperative treatment consisting of close serial follow-up or a supervised trial of structured rehabilitation. In the event of myelopathic development, the patient should be managed according to the recommendations above.” Conclusions: These guidelines will promote standardization of care for patients with DCM, decrease the heterogeneity of management strategies and encourage clinicians to make evidence-informed decisions.

scholarly journals Characteristics of Upper Limb Impairment Related to Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Development of a Sensitive Hand Assessment (Graded Redefined Assessment of Strength, Sensibility, and Prehension Version Myelopathy)

Neurosurgery ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. E292-E299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sukhvinder Kalsi-Ryan ◽  
Lauren E Riehm ◽  
Lindsay Tetreault ◽  
Allan R Martin ◽  
Florentina Teoderascu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Upper Limb ◽  
Functional Impairment ◽  
Cervical Myelopathy ◽  
Hand Function ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Japanese Orthopaedic Association ◽  
Neurological Impairment ◽  
Cord Compression ◽  
Manual Dexterity ◽  
Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy

Abstract BACKGROUND Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) involves spinal cord compression, which causes neurological decline. Neurological impairment in DCM is variable and can involve complex upper limb dysfunction including loss of manual dexterity, hyperreflexia, focal weakness, and sensory impairment. The modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) score relies on the patients’ subjective perceptions, whereas existing objective measures such as strength and sensory testing do not capture subtle changes in dexterity and function. OBJECTIVE 1) To characterize arm and hand function in DCM; and 2) To develop and validate Graded Redefined Assessment of Strength, Sensibility, and Prehension Version-Myelopathy (GRASSP-M), a clinical assessment that quantifies upper limb impairment. METHODS A total of 148 DCM patients (categorized into mild, moderate, and severe based on mJOA grade) and 21 healthy subjects were enrolled. A complete neurological exam, the mJOA, the QuickDASH, grip dynamometry, and the GRASSP-M were administered. RESULTS Strength, sensation, and manual dexterity significantly declined with increasing DCM severity (P ≤ .05). Impairment in hand dexterity showed better discrimination between mild, moderate, and severe DCM categories than strength or sensation. The GRASSP-M was found to be both a reliable (intraclass correlation coefficient >0.75 for intra- and inter-rater reliability) and valid (with both concurrent and construct validity) tool. CONCLUSION These results demonstrate that patients’ subjective reporting of functional status, especially in the mild DCM category, may underrepresent the extent of functional impairment. The GRASSP-M is an objective tool designed to characterize patients’ functional impairment related to the upper limb, which proves useful to diagnose and quantify mild dysfunction, monitor patients for deterioration, and help determine when patients should be treated surgically.

scholarly journals Short-term predictive potential of quantitative assessment of spinal cord impairment in patients undergoing French-door Laminoplasty for degenerative cervical myelopathy: preliminary results of an exploratory study exploiting intraoperative ultrasound data

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guoliang Chen ◽  
Jiachun Li ◽  
Fuxin Wei ◽  
Qiao Ji ◽  
Wenyuan Sui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Compression ◽  
Cervical Myelopathy ◽  
Quantitative Assessment ◽  
Japanese Orthopaedic Association ◽  
Intraoperative Ultrasound ◽  
Cord Compression ◽  
Postoperative Mri ◽  
Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy ◽  
Gray Values

Abstract Background To study the correlation of neurological function in degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) patients with quantitative assessment of spinal cord compression and impairment by intraoperative ultrasound imaging (IOUSI). Methods Twenty-three patients who underwent French-Door laminoplasty for multilevel DCM were followed for 6 months. Modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) score and cervical MRI were assessed before surgery and at postoperative 6 months. IOUS, used to guide decompression, were recorded. The anteroposterior diameter (APD) and the gray values of the IOUSI hyperechogenicity of the midsagittal IOUSI at the narrowest level and at the lesion-free level, and the APD and traverse diameter at the traverse maximum compression level of IOUSI were measured. Maximum spinal cord compression (MSCC), compression rate (CR), and IOUSI gray value ratio (Rgray) were calculated. The appearance of preoperative T2W MRI increased signal intensity (ISI), and the signal change rate (SCR) on postoperative T2W MRI of 9 patients were also measured and calculated, and compared with that of IOUSI hyperechogenicity. Results Average mJOA score increased significantly from 11.57 ± 2.67 before surgery to 15.39 ± 1.50 at 6 months after surgery, with an average recovery rate (RR) of 71.11 ± 22.81%. The difference between the appearance of preoperative T2W MRI ISI and IOUSI hyperechogenicity was not significant. Spearman correlation analysis found that the IOUSI Rgray were negatively correlated with the RR of mJOA score with a coefficient of − 0.77, and the IOUSI Rgray was not correlated with the postoperative MRI SCR. Conclusions In DCM patients, the gray values of IOUSI can be measured accurately. The IOUSI Rgray correlated with postoperative neurological recovery significantly.

scholarly journals Route to diagnosis of degenerative cervical myelopathy in a UK healthcare system: a retrospective cohort study

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. e027000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryn Hilton ◽  
Jennifer Tempest-Mitchell ◽  
Benjamin Davies ◽  
Mark Kotter
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Symptom Onset ◽  
Cervical Myelopathy ◽  
Secondary Care ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Cord Compression ◽  
Cervical Cord ◽  
Clinical Documentation ◽  
Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy

ObjectivesDegenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) presents insidiously, making initial diagnosis challenging. Surgery has been shown to prevent further disability but existing spinal cord damage may be permanent. Delays in surgery lead to increased disability and reduced postoperative improvements. Therefore, rapid surgical assessment is key to improving patient outcomes. Unfortunately, diagnosis of DCM in primary care is often delayed. This study aimed to characterise patients with DCM route to diagnosis and surgical assessment as well as to plot disease progression over time.DesignRetrospective, observational cohort study.SettingSingle, tertiary centre using additional clinical records from primary and secondary care centres.ParticipantsOne year of cervical MRI scans conducted at a tertiary neurosciences centre (n=1123) were screened for cervical cord compression, a corresponding clinical diagnosis of myelopathy and sufficient clinical documentation to plot a route to diagnosis (n=43).Primary outcome measuresTime to diagnosis from symptom onset, route to diagnosis and disease progression were the primary outcome measures in this study. Disease severity was approximated using a prospectively validated method for inferring modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (i-mJOA) functional scoring from clinical documentation.ResultsPatients received a referral to secondary care 6.4±7.7 months after symptom onset. Cervical MRI scanning and neurosurgical review occurred 12.5±13.0 and 15.8±13.5 months after symptom onset, respectively. i-mJOA was 16.0±1.7 at primary care assessment and 14.8±2.5 at surgical assessment. 61.0% of patients were offered operations. For those who received surgery, time between onset and surgery was 22.1±13.2 months.ConclusionsRoute to surgical assessment was heterogeneous and lengthy. Some patients deteriorated during this period. This study highlights the need for a streamlined pathway by which patients with cervical cord compression can receive timely assessment and treatment by a specialist. This would improve outcomes for patients using existing treatments.

scholarly journals Tracking white and grey matter degeneration along the spinal cord axis in degenerative cervical myelopathy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Vallotton ◽  
Gergely David ◽  
Markus Hupp ◽  
Nikolai Pfender ◽  
Julien Cohen-Adad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Cervical Myelopathy ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Cord Compression ◽  
Cervical Cord ◽  
Tissue Specific ◽  
Microstructural Changes ◽  
Diffusion Weighted ◽  
Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy ◽  
Lumbar Cord

AbstractObjectiveTo determine tissue-specific neurodegeneration across the spinal cord in patients with mild-moderate degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM).MethodsTwenty-four mild-moderate DCM and 24 healthy subjects were recruited. In patients, a T2-weighted scan was acquired at the compression site, while in all participants a T2*-weighted and diffusion-weighted scan was acquired at the cervical level (C2-C3) and in the lumbar enlargement (i.e. rostral and caudal to the site of compression). We quantified intramedullary signal changes, maximal canal and cord compression, white (WM) and grey matter (GM) atrophy, and microstructural indices from diffusion-weighted scans. All patients underwent clinical (modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA)) and electrophysiological assessments. Regression analysis assessed associations between MRI readouts and electrophysiological and clinical outcomes.ResultsTwenty patients were classified with mild and four with moderate DCM using the mJOA scale. The most frequent site of compression was at C5-C6 level with maximum cord compression of 4.68±0.83 mm. Ten patients showed imaging evidence of cervical myelopathy. In the cervical cord, WM and GM atrophy and WM microstructural changes were evident, while in the lumbar cord only WM showed atrophy and microstructural changes. Remote cervical cord WM microstructural changes were pronounced in patients with radiological myelopathy and associated with impaired electrophysiology. Lumbar cord WM atrophy was associated with lower limb sensory impairments.ConclusionTissue-specific neurodegeneration revealed by quantitative MRI, already apparent across the spinal cord in mild-moderate DCM prior to the onset of severe clinical impairments. WM microstructural changes are particularly sensitive to remote pathologically and clinically eloquent changes in DCM.

scholarly journals Change in Functional Impairment, Disability, and Quality of Life Following Operative Treatment for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 53S-69S ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael G. Fehlings ◽  
Lindsay A. Tetreault ◽  
Shekar Kurpad ◽  
Darrel S. Brodke ◽  
Jefferson R. Wilson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Operative Treatment ◽  
Functional Impairment ◽  
Cervical Myelopathy ◽  
Surgical Intervention ◽  
Japanese Orthopaedic Association ◽  
Duration Of Symptoms ◽  
Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy ◽  
The Impact

Study Design: Systematic review. Objectives: The primary objective of this systematic review was to define the change in impairment, disability, and pain following surgical intervention in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). Secondary objectives included to assess the impact of preoperative disease severity and duration of symptoms on outcomes and to summarize complications associated with surgery. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify prospective studies evaluating the effectiveness and safety of operative treatment in patients with DCM. Outcomes of interest were functional status, disability, pain, and complications. The quality of each study was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and the strength of the overall body of evidence was rated using guidelines outlined by the Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) Working Group. Results: Of the 385 retrieved citations, 32 met inclusion criteria and are summarized in this review. Based on our results, pooled standard mean differences showed a large effect for improvement in Japanese Orthopaedic Association or modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association score from baseline at short-, medium-, and long-term follow-up: 6 to 12 months (1.92; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.41 to 2.43), 13 to 36 months (1.40; 95% CI = 1.12 to 1.67), and ≥36 months (1.92; 95% CI = 1.14 to 2.69) (moderate evidence). Surgery also resulted in significant improvements in Nurick, Neck Disability Index, and Visual Analogue Scale scores (low to very low evidence). The cumulative incidence of complications was low (14.1%; 95% CI = 10.1% to 18.2%). Conclusion: Surgical intervention for DCM results in significant improvements in functional impairment, disability, and pain and is associated with an acceptably low rate of complications.

scholarly journals Functional outcome of posterior laminectomy in case of cervical myelopathy with multilevel cervical cord compression

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 510-514
Author(s):  
Dr. Siddharth D Parekh ◽  
Dr. Arvind B Goregaonkar ◽  
Dr. Anoop Dhamangaokar ◽  
Dr. Apratim R Deekshit ◽  
Dr. Umesh P Kanade
Keyword(s):  
Functional Outcome ◽  
Cervical Myelopathy ◽  
Cord Compression ◽  
Cervical Cord ◽  
Cervical Cord Compression ◽  
Posterior Laminectomy

scholarly journals Myofacial Release for the Management of Cervical Compressive Myelopathy – Case Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Patitapaban Mohanty ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Soft Tissue ◽  
Disc Herniation ◽  
Cord Compression ◽  
Surgical Decompression ◽  
Cervical Cord ◽  
Myofascial Release ◽  
Cervical Compressive Myelopathy ◽  
Compressive Myelopathy

Cervical compressive myelopathy commonly occurs due to degeneration or disc herniation. The persons with cervical meylopathy are usually advised for surgical decompression. Person with signs of cervical cord compression was treated with myofacial release and found to be improved in signs as well as the symptoms. Total 34 numbers of similar cases (31 males and 3 females) age ranging from 25 to 61 years were treated by myofascial release of periscapular soft tissue structures over last 2 & ½ years (2017 to 2020) and found to return back to their activities after 6 months of follow up.

Predictors of Return to Normal Neurological Function After Surgery for Moderate and Severe Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: An Analysis of A Global AOSpine Cohort of Patients

Neurosurgery ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (5) ◽  
pp. E917-E923 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael De la Garza Ramos ◽  
Aria Nouri ◽  
Jonathan Nakhla ◽  
Murray Echt ◽  
Yaroslav Gelfand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Myelopathy ◽  
Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Japanese Orthopaedic Association ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Neurological Function ◽  
International Studies ◽  
Patient Counseling ◽  
Multicenter Studies ◽  
Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy ◽  
Walking Time

Abstract BACKGROUND Multiple studies have established the safety and efficacy of surgical intervention for degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). Although the main goal of surgery is symptom stabilization, a subset of patients achieves remarkable improvements. OBJECTIVE To identify predictors of return to normal neurological function after surgery for moderate or severe DCM. METHODS This is an analysis of 2 prospective multicenter studies (the AOSpine CSM-North America and CSM-International studies) conducted between 2005 and 2011. For patients with complete preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 2-yr follow-up, characteristics were compared between those who achieved a modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) score of 18 at 2 yr (no signs of myelopathy) vs controls. Only patients with baseline mJOA ≤ 14 (moderate and severe myelopathy) were included to minimize ceiling effects. RESULTS A total of 51 patients (20.3%) out of 251 with moderate or severe baseline myelopathy achieved an mJOA score of 18 at 2 yr. On stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis, T1-weighted (T1W1)-hypointensity (odds ratio [OR] 0.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.01-0.79; P = .03) and longer walking time on the 30-m walking test (OR 0.95; 95% CI, 0.92-0.99; P = .03) were independent predictors of outcome, with an area under the curve of 0.71 for the model. CONCLUSION In this study, T1W-hypointensity on MRI and longer walking time were found to predict a less likelihood of achieving return to normal neurological function after surgery for moderate or severe DCM. These findings may provide useful information for patient counseling and perioperative expectations.

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