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Stanners M, O'Riordan M, Theodosiou E, Souppez JBRG, Gardner A. The mechanical properties of the spinal cord: a systematic review. Spine J 2024; 24:1302-1312. [PMID: 38432298 DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2024.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND CONTENT Spinal cord compression is a source of pathology routinely seen in clinical practice. However, there remain unanswered questions surrounding both the understanding of pathogenesis and the best method of treatment. This arises from limited real-life testing of the mechanical properties of the spinal cord, either through cadaveric human specimens or animal testing, both of which suffer from methodological, as well as ethical, issues. PURPOSE To conduct a review of the literature on the mechanical properties of the spinal cord. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING A systematic review of the literature on the mechanical properties of the spinal cord is undertaken. PATIENT SAMPLE All literature reporting the testing of the mechanical properties of the spinal cord. OUTCOME MEASURES Reported physiological mechanical properties of the spinal cord. METHODS The methodological quality of the studies has been assessed within the ARRIVE guidelines using the CAMARADES framework and SYRCLE's risk of bias tool. This paper details the methodologies and results of the reported testing. RESULTS We show that (1) the research quality of previous work does not follow published guidelines on animal treatment or risk of bias, (2) no standard protocol has been employed for sample preparation or mechanical testing, (3) this leads to a wide distribution of results for the tested mechanical properties, not applicable to the living human or animal, and (4) animal testing is not a good proxy for human application. CONCLUSIONS The findings summarize the sum of current knowledge inherent to the mechanical properties of the spinal cord and may contribute to the development of a physical model which is applicable to the living human for analysis and testing in a controlled and repeatable fashion. Such a model would be the basis for further clinical research to improve outcomes from spinal cord compression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Stanners
- Aston Medical School, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK
| | | | - Eirini Theodosiou
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK
| | - Jean-Baptiste R G Souppez
- Department of Mechanical, Biomedical and Design Engineering, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK
| | - Adrian Gardner
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK; The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol Road South, Northfield, Birmingham, B31 2AP, UK.
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2
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Lee Y, Trenchfield D, Berthiaume E, Tomlak A, Narayanan R, Brush P, Heard J, Maddy K, Issa T, Lambrechts M, Kaye ID, Mangan J, Grasso G, Canseco J, Vaccaro A, Kepler C, Schroeder G, Hilibrand A. A Comparison of Clinical Outcomes Between Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Versus Posterior Cervical Laminoplasty for Multilevel Cervical Myelopathy. Clin Spine Surg 2024:01933606-990000000-00326. [PMID: 38884360 DOI: 10.1097/bsd.0000000000001634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Retrospective Cohort. OBJECTIVE To compare patient-reported outcomes and surgical outcomes after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) versus cervical laminoplasty for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy. BACKGROUND Treatment options for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy include ACDF and cervical laminoplasty. Given that the literature has been mixed regarding the optimal approach, especially in patients without kyphosis, there is a need for additional studies investigating outcomes between ACDF and cervical laminoplasty. METHODS A retrospective review was conducted of adult patients undergoing 3 or 4-level surgery. Patients with preoperative kyphosis based on C2-C7 Cobb angles were excluded. The electronic medical record and institutional databases were reviewed for baseline characteristics, surgical outcomes, and patient-reported outcomes. RESULTS A total of 101 patients who underwent ACDF and 52 patients who underwent laminoplasty were included in the study. The laminoplasty cohort had a higher overall Charlson Comorbidity Index (3.10 ± 1.43 vs 2.39 ± 1.57, P = 0.011). Both groups had a comparable number of levels decompressed, C2-C7 lordosis, and diagnosis of myelopathy versus myeloradiculopathy. Patients who underwent laminoplasty had a longer length of stay (2.04 ± 1.15 vs 1.48 ± 0.70, P = 0.003) but readmission, complication, and revision rates were similar. Both groups had similar improvement in myelopathy scores (∆modified Japanese Orthopedic Association: 1.11 ± 3.09 vs 1.06 ± 3.37, P = 0.639). ACDF had greater improvement in Neck Disability Index (∆Neck Disability Index: -11.66 ± 19.2 vs -1.13 ± 11.2, P < 0.001), neck pain (∆Visual Analog Scale-neck: -2.69 ± 2.78 vs -0.83 ± 2.55, P = 0.003), and arm pain (∆Visual Analog Scale-arm: -2.47 ± 3.15 vs -0.48 ± 3.19, P = 0.010). These findings persisted in multivariate analysis except for Neck Disability Index. CONCLUSION ACDF and cervical laminoplasty appear equally efficacious at halting myelopathic progression. However, patients who underwent ACDF had greater improvements in arm pain at 1 year postoperatively. Longitudinal studies evaluating the efficacy of laminoplasty to mitigate adjacent segment disease are indicated to establish a robust risk-benefit assessment for these 2 procedures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunsoo Lee
- Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Delano Trenchfield
- Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Emily Berthiaume
- Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Alexa Tomlak
- Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Rajkishen Narayanan
- Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Parker Brush
- Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Jeremy Heard
- Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Krisna Maddy
- Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Tariq Issa
- Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Mark Lambrechts
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Ian David Kaye
- Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - John Mangan
- Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Giovanni Grasso
- Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Neurosurgical Clinic, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro, Palermo, Italy
| | - Jose Canseco
- Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Alexander Vaccaro
- Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Christopher Kepler
- Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Gregory Schroeder
- Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Alan Hilibrand
- Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
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Fehlings MG, Pedro KM, Alvi MA, Badhiwala JH, Ahn H, Farhadi HF, Shaffrey CI, Nassr A, Mummaneni P, Arnold PM, Jacobs WB, Riew KD, Kelly M, Brodke DS, Vaccaro AR, Hilibrand AS, Wilson J, Harrop JS, Yoon ST, Kim KD, Fourney DR, Santaguida C, Massicotte EM, Huang P. Riluzole for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A Secondary Analysis of the CSM-PROTECT Trial. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2415643. [PMID: 38904964 PMCID: PMC11193126 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.15643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance The modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) scale is the most common scale used to represent outcomes of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM); however, it lacks consideration for neck pain scores and neglects the multidimensional aspect of recovery after surgery. Objective To use a global statistical approach that incorporates assessments of multiple outcomes to reassess the efficacy of riluzole in patients undergoing spinal surgery for DCM. Design, Setting, and Participants This was a secondary analysis of prespecified secondary end points within the Efficacy of Riluzole in Surgical Treatment for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy (CSM-PROTECT) trial, a multicenter, double-blind, phase 3 randomized clinical trial conducted from January 2012 to May 2017. Adult surgical patients with DCM with moderate to severe myelopathy (mJOA scale score of 8-14) were randomized to receive either riluzole or placebo. The present study was conducted from July to December 2023. Intervention Riluzole (50 mg twice daily) or placebo for a total of 6 weeks, including 2 weeks prior to surgery and 4 weeks following surgery. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome measure was a difference in clinical improvement from baseline to 1-year follow-up, assessed using a global statistical test (GST). The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey Physical Component Score (SF-36 PCS), arm and neck pain numeric rating scale (NRS) scores, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor score, and Nurick grade were combined into a single summary statistic known as the global treatment effect (GTE). Results Overall, 290 patients (riluzole group, 141; placebo group, 149; mean [SD] age, 59 [10.1] years; 161 [56%] male) were included. Riluzole showed a significantly higher probability of global improvement compared with placebo at 1-year follow-up (GTE, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.00-0.16; P = .02). A similar favorable global response was seen at 35 days and 6 months (GTE for both, 0.07; 95% CI, -0.01 to 0.15; P = .04), although the results were not statistically significant. Riluzole-treated patients had at least a 54% likelihood of achieving better outcomes at 1 year compared with the placebo group. The ASIA motor score and neck and arm pain NRS combination at 1 year provided the best-fit parsimonious model for detecting a benefit of riluzole (GTE, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.02-0.16; P = .007). Conclusions and Relevance In this secondary analysis of the CSM-PROTECT trial using a global outcome technique, riluzole was associated with improved clinical outcomes in patients with DCM. The GST offered probability-based results capable of representing diverse outcome scales and should be considered in future studies assessing spine surgery outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G. Fehlings
- Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Karlo M. Pedro
- Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mohammed Ali Alvi
- Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jetan H. Badhiwala
- Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Henry Ahn
- Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, St Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Ahmad Nassr
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | | | - Paul M. Arnold
- Department of Neurosurgery, Kansas University Medical Center, Kansas City
| | - W. Bradley Jacobs
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - K. Daniel Riew
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Michael Kelly
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San Diego
| | | | - Alexander R. Vaccaro
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Jason Wilson
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - James S. Harrop
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - S. Tim Yoon
- Department of Orthopaedics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Kee D. Kim
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, Davis, Sacramento
| | - Daryl R. Fourney
- Division of Neurosurgery, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Carlo Santaguida
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Eric M. Massicotte
- Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peng Huang
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
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Jiang Z, Davies B, Zipser C, Margetis K, Martin A, Matsoukas S, Zipser-Mohammadzada F, Kheram N, Boraschi A, Zakin E, Obadaseraye OR, Fehlings MG, Wilson J, Yurac R, Cook CE, Milligan J, Tabrah J, Widdop S, Wood L, Roberts EA, Rujeedawa T, Tetreault L. The value of Clinical signs in the diagnosis of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy - A Systematic review and Meta-analysis. Global Spine J 2024; 14:1369-1394. [PMID: 37903098 DOI: 10.1177/21925682231209869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Delayed diagnosis of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is likely due to a combination of its subtle symptoms, incomplete neurological assessments by clinicians and a lack of public and professional awareness. Diagnostic criteria for DCM will likely facilitate earlier referral for definitive management. OBJECTIVES This systematic review aims to determine (i) the diagnostic accuracy of various clinical signs and (ii) the association between clinical signs and disease severity in DCM? METHODS A search was performed to identify studies on adult patients that evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of a clinical sign used for diagnosing DCM. Studies were also included if they assessed the association between the presence of a clinical sign and disease severity. The QUADAS-2 tool was used to evaluate the risk of bias of individual studies. RESULTS This review identified eleven studies that used a control group to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of various signs. An additional 61 articles reported on the frequency of clinical signs in a cohort of DCM patients. The most sensitive clinical tests for diagnosing DCM were the Tromner and hyperreflexia, whereas the most specific tests were the Babinski, Tromner, clonus and inverted supinator sign. Five studies evaluated the association between the presence of various clinical signs and disease severity. There was no definite association between Hoffmann sign, Babinski sign or hyperreflexia and disease severity. CONCLUSION The presence of clinical signs suggesting spinal cord compression should encourage health care professionals to pursue further investigation, such as neuroimaging to either confirm or refute a diagnosis of DCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhilin Jiang
- King's College Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Carl Zipser
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Allan Martin
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Stavros Matsoukas
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | | | - Najmeh Kheram
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
- The Interface Group, Institute of Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Boraschi
- The Interface Group, Institute of Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Elina Zakin
- New York University Langone, Department of Neurology, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Michael G Fehlings
- University of Toronto Division of Neurosurgery and Spinal Program, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jamie Wilson
- University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Ratko Yurac
- University del Desarrollo, Clinica Alemana de Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Jamie Milligan
- Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, USA
| | - Julia Tabrah
- Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare, Teddington, UK
| | | | - Lianne Wood
- Nottingham University Hospital, Nottingham, UK
| | | | | | - Lindsay Tetreault
- New York University Langone, Department of Neurology, New York, NY, USA
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5
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Jiang Z, Davies B, Zipser C, Margetis K, Martin A, Matsoukas S, Zipser-Mohammadzada F, Kheram N, Boraschi A, Zakin E, Obadaseraye OR, Fehlings MG, Wilson J, Yurac R, Cook CE, Milligan J, Tabrah J, Widdop S, Wood L, Roberts EA, Rujeedawa T, Tetreault L. The Frequency of Symptoms in Patients With a Diagnosis of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Results of a Scoping Review. Global Spine J 2024; 14:1395-1421. [PMID: 37917661 DOI: 10.1177/21925682231210468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Delayed diagnosis of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is associated with reduced quality of life and greater disability. Developing diagnostic criteria for DCM has been identified as a top research priority. OBJECTIVES This scoping review aims to address the following questions: What is the diagnostic accuracy and frequency of clinical symptoms in patients with DCM? METHODS A scoping review was conducted using a database of all primary DCM studies published between 2005 and 2020. Studies were included if they (i) assessed the diagnostic accuracy of a symptom using an appropriate control group or (ii) reported the frequency of a symptom in a cohort of DCM patients. RESULTS This review identified three studies that discussed the diagnostic accuracy of various symptoms and included a control group. An additional 58 reported on the frequency of symptoms in a cohort of patients with DCM. The most frequent and sensitive symptoms in DCM include unspecified paresthesias (86%), hand numbness (82%) and hand paresthesias (79%). Neck and/or shoulder pain was present in 51% of patients with DCM, whereas a minority had back (19%) or lower extremity pain (10%). Bladder dysfunction was uncommon (38%) although more frequent than bowel (23%) and sexual impairment (4%). Gait impairment is also commonly seen in patients with DCM (72%). CONCLUSION Patients with DCM present with many different symptoms, most commonly sensorimotor impairment of the upper extremities, pain, bladder dysfunction and gait disturbance. If patients present with a combination of these symptoms, further neuroimaging is indicated to confirm the diagnosis of DCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhilin Jiang
- King's College Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Carl Zipser
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Konstantinos Margetis
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Allan Martin
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Stavros Matsoukas
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Najmeh Kheram
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
- The Interface Group, Institute of Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Boraschi
- The Interface Group, Institute of Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Elina Zakin
- Department of Neurology, New York UniversityLangone, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Michael G Fehlings
- Division of Neurosurgery and Spinal Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jamie Wilson
- University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Ratko Yurac
- Professor of Orthopedics and Traumatology, University del Desarrollo, Clinica Alemana de Santiago, Santiago, Chile
| | - Chad E Cook
- Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jamie Milligan
- Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, USA
| | - Julia Tabrah
- Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare, London, UK
| | | | - Lianne Wood
- Nottingham University Hospital, Nottingham, UK
| | | | | | - Lindsay Tetreault
- Department of Neurology, New York UniversityLangone, New York, NY, USA
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6
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Goacher E, Yardanov S, Phillips R, Budu A, Dyson E, Ivanov M, Barton G, Hutton M, Gardner A, Quraishi NA, Grahovac G, Jung J, Demetriades AK, Vergara P, Pereira E, Arzoglou V, Francis J, Trivedi R, Davies BM, Kotter MRN. Cost-effectiveness of surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy in the United Kingdom. Br J Neurosurg 2024:1-5. [PMID: 38712620 DOI: 10.1080/02688697.2024.2346566] [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: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is the commonest cause of adult spinal cord dysfunction worldwide, for which surgery is the mainstay of treatment. At present, there is limited literature on the costs associated with the surgical management of DCM, and none from the United Kingdom (UK). This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of DCM surgery within the National Health Service, UK. MATERIALS AND METHODS Incidence of DCM was identified from the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) database for a single year using five ICD-10 diagnostic codes to represent DCM. Health Resource Group (HRG) data was used to estimate the mean incremental surgery (treatment) costs compared to non-surgical care, and the incremental effect (quality adjusted life year (QALY) gain) was based on data from a previous study. A cost per QALY value of <£30,000/QALY (GBP) was considered acceptable and cost-effective, as per the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance. A sensitivity analysis was undertaken (±5%, ±10% and ±20%) to account for variance in both the cost of admission and QALY gain. RESULTS The total number of admissions for DCM in 2018 was 4,218. Mean age was 62 years, with 54% of admissions being of working age (18-65 years). The overall estimated cost of admissions for DCM was £38,871,534 for the year. The mean incremental (per patient) cost of surgical management of DCM was estimated to be £9,216 (ranged £2,358 to £9,304), with a QALY gain of 0.64, giving an estimated cost per QALY value of £14,399/QALY. Varying the QALY gain by ±20%, resulted in cost/QALY figures between £12,000 (+20%) and £17,999 (-20%). CONCLUSIONS Surgery is estimated to be a cost-effective treatment of DCM amongst the UK population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Goacher
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hull University Teaching Hospitals, Hull, UK
| | - Stefan Yardanov
- Academic Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosurgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Alexandru Budu
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospitals Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Edward Dyson
- Department of Neurosurgery, National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK
| | - Marcel Ivanov
- Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK
| | - Gary Barton
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Mike Hutton
- Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, UK
| | - Adrian Gardner
- The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Nasir A Quraishi
- Centre for Spinal Studies & Surgery, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK
| | - Gordan Grahovac
- Department of Neurosurgery, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Josephine Jung
- Department of Neurosurgery, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Andreas K Demetriades
- Edinburgh Spinal Surgery Outcome Studies Group, Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Pierluigi Vergara
- Department of Spinal Surgery, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, Ipswich, UK
| | - Erlick Pereira
- Department of Neurosurgery, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Vasileios Arzoglou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hull University Teaching Hospitals, Hull, UK
| | - Jibin Francis
- Academic Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosurgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Rikin Trivedi
- Academic Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosurgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Benjamin M Davies
- Academic Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosurgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mark R N Kotter
- Academic Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosurgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- WT MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Anne McLaren Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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7
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Fu Z, Xie Y, Li P, Gao M, Chen J, Ning N. Assessing multidisciplinary follow-up pattern efficiency and cost in follow-up care for patients in cervical spondylosis surgery: a non-randomized controlled study. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1354483. [PMID: 38633312 PMCID: PMC11022215 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1354483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The use of multidisciplinary treatment programs in out-of-hospital healthcare is a new area of research. Little is known about the benefits of this method in the management of discharged patients undergoing cervical spondylosis surgery. Objective This study aimed to explore the effect of a contracted-based, multidisciplinary follow-up plan in patients after cervical spondylosis surgery. Methods This non-blinded non-randomized controlled study was conducted with 88 patients (44 in the intervention group, 44 in the control group). The clinical outcomes, including Neck Disability Index (NDI), pain score (VAS), Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease 6-item Scale (SECD-6), and 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) score were assessed at the time of discharge, 24-72 h, 1 month, and 3 months post-discharge. The complications, patient satisfaction, and economic indicators were assessed at the final follow-up (3 months). Results Patients who received contracted follow-up showed greater improvement in neck dysfunction at 24-72 h, 1 month, and 3 months after discharge compared to those who received routine follow-up (p < 0.001). At 1 month after discharge, the intervention group exhibited better self-efficacy (p = 0.001) and quality of life (p < 0.001) than the control group, and these improvements lasted for 3 months. The intervention group reported lower pain scores at 24-72 h and 1 month (p = 0.008; p = 0.026) compared to the control group. The incidence of complications was significantly lower in the intervention group (11.4%) compared to the control group (40.9%). The total satisfaction score was significant difference between the two groups (p < 0.001). Additionally, the intervention group had lower direct medical costs (p < 0.001), direct non-medical costs (p = 0.035), and total costs (p = 0.04) compared to the control group. However, there was no statistically significant difference in indirect costs between the two groups (p = 0.59). Conclusion A multidisciplinary contract follow-up plan has significant advantages regarding neck disability, self-efficacy, quality of life, postoperative complications, patient satisfaction, and direct costs compared with routine follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Ning Ning
- Department of Orthopedics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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8
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Khan AF, Muhammad F, Mohammadi E, O'Neal C, Haynes G, Hameed S, Walker B, Rohan ML, Yabluchanskiy A, Smith ZA. Beyond the aging spine - a systematic review of functional changes in the human brain in cervical spondylotic myelopathy. GeroScience 2024; 46:1421-1450. [PMID: 37801201 PMCID: PMC10828266 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00954-8] [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: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy (CSM) is a degenerative condition that leads to loss of cervical spinal cord integrity, typically affecting the aged population. Emerging fMRI-based evidence suggests that the brain is also affected by CSM. This systematic review aimed to understand the usefulness of brain fMRI in CSM. A comprehensive literature search was conducted until March 2023 according to PRISMA guidelines. The inclusion criteria included original research articles in English, primarily studying the human brain's functional changes in CSM using fMRI with at least 5 participants. The extracted data from each study included demographics, disease severity, MRI machine characteristics, affected brain areas, functional changes, and clinical utilities. A total of 30 studies met the inclusion criteria. Among the fMRI methods, resting-state fMRI was the most widely used experimental paradigm, followed by motor tasks. The brain areas associated with motor control were most affected in CSM, followed by the superior frontal gyrus and occipital cortex. Functional changes in the brain were correlated to clinical metrics showing clinical utility. However, the evidence that a specific fMRI metric correlating with a clinical metric was "very low" to "insufficient" due to a low number of studies and negative results. In conclusion, fMRI can potentially facilitate the diagnosis of CSM by quantitatively interrogating the functional changes of the brain, particularly areas of the brain associated with motor control. However, this field is in its early stages, and more studies are needed to establish the usefulness of brain fMRI in CSM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Fahim Khan
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1000 N Lincoln Blvd, Suite 4000, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.
| | - Fauziyya Muhammad
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1000 N Lincoln Blvd, Suite 4000, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Esmaeil Mohammadi
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1000 N Lincoln Blvd, Suite 4000, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Christen O'Neal
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1000 N Lincoln Blvd, Suite 4000, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Grace Haynes
- Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | - Sanaa Hameed
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1000 N Lincoln Blvd, Suite 4000, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Brynden Walker
- College of Arts and Sciences, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | | | - Andriy Yabluchanskiy
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1000 N Lincoln Blvd, Suite 4000, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
- Oklahoma Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Zachary Adam Smith
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1000 N Lincoln Blvd, Suite 4000, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
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Davies B, Schaefer S, Rafati Fard A, Newcombe V, Sutcliffe M. Finite Element Analysis for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Scoping Review of the Current Findings and Design Approaches, Including Recommendations on the Choice of Material Properties. JMIR BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2024; 9:e48146. [PMID: 38875683 PMCID: PMC11041437 DOI: 10.2196/48146] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a slow-motion spinal cord injury caused via chronic mechanical loading by spinal degenerative changes. A range of different degenerative changes can occur. Finite element analysis (FEA) can predict the distribution of mechanical stress and strain on the spinal cord to help understand the implications of any mechanical loading. One of the critical assumptions for FEA is the behavior of each anatomical element under loading (ie, its material properties). OBJECTIVE This scoping review aims to undertake a structured process to select the most appropriate material properties for use in DCM FEA. In doing so, it also provides an overview of existing modeling approaches in spinal cord disease and clinical insights into DCM. METHODS We conducted a scoping review using qualitative synthesis. Observational studies that discussed the use of FEA models involving the spinal cord in either health or disease (including DCM) were eligible for inclusion in the review. We followed the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. The MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched to September 1, 2021. This was supplemented with citation searching to retrieve the literature used to define material properties. Duplicate title and abstract screening and data extraction were performed. The quality of evidence was appraised using the quality assessment tool we developed, adapted from the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and shortlisted with respect to DCM material properties, with a final recommendation provided. A qualitative synthesis of the literature is presented according to the Synthesis Without Meta-Analysis reporting guidelines. RESULTS A total of 60 papers were included: 41 (68%) "FEA articles" and 19 (32%) "source articles." Most FEA articles (33/41, 80%) modeled the gray matter and white matter separately, with models typically based on tabulated data or, less frequently, a hyperelastic Ogden variant or linear elastic function. Of the 19 source articles, 14 (74%) were identified as describing the material properties of the spinal cord, of which 3 (21%) were considered most relevant to DCM. Of the 41 FEA articles, 15 (37%) focused on DCM, of which 9 (60%) focused on ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Our aggregated results of DCM FEA indicate that spinal cord loading is influenced by the pattern of degenerative changes, with decompression alone (eg, laminectomy) sufficient to address this as opposed to decompression combined with other procedures (eg, laminectomy and fusion). CONCLUSIONS FEA is a promising technique for exploring the pathobiology of DCM and informing clinical care. This review describes a structured approach to help future investigators deploy FEA for DCM. However, there are limitations to these recommendations and wider uncertainties. It is likely that these will need to be overcome to support the clinical translation of FEA to DCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Davies
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel Schaefer
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Amir Rafati Fard
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Virginia Newcombe
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Sutcliffe
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Friesen AC, Detombe SA, Doyle-Pettypiece P, Ng W, Gurr K, Bailey C, Rasoulinejad P, Siddiqi F, Bartha R, Duggal N. Characterizing mJOA-defined post-surgical recovery patterns in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy. World Neurosurg X 2024; 21:100267. [PMID: 38193094 PMCID: PMC10772397 DOI: 10.1016/j.wnsx.2023.100267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Degenerative cervical myelopathy is a spinal disorder resulting in progressive cord compression and neurological deficits that are assessed using the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) questionnaire. It is difficult to predict which patients will recover neurological function after surgery, making it challenging for clinicians to set postoperative patient expectations. In this study, we used mJOA subscores to identify patterns of recovery and recovery timelines in patients with moderate and severe myelopathy. Methods Fifty-three myelopathy patients were enrolled and completed the mJOA questionnaire both pre-surgery, and six weeks and six months post-surgery. Pearson chi-square tests were performed to assess relationships of both recovery patterns and recovery timelines with severity of disease. Results Moderate myelopathy patients were significantly more likely than severe myelopathy patients to experience full recovery of upper extremity, lower extremity, and sensory domains. Disease severity did not significantly impact the timeline during which recovery occurs. Overall, >90% of patients experienced at least partial recovery by six months post surgery, 80% of which demonstrated it within the first six weeks. Conclusions This study shows the more severe the disease experienced by myelopathy patients, the more likely they will be left with permanent disabilities despite surgery. Early identification and treatment are therefore necessary to prevent worsening quality of life and increased costs of functional dependence. The recovery timelines for each subscore are similar and provide new values to guide patient expectations in their potential post-operative recovery. The overall recovery timeline is more generalizable though potentially lacking the specificity patients seek.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander C. Friesen
- Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sarah A. Detombe
- Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Pat Doyle-Pettypiece
- Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wai Ng
- Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kevin Gurr
- Department of Orthopedics, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chris Bailey
- Department of Orthopedics, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Parham Rasoulinejad
- Department of Orthopedics, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Fawaz Siddiqi
- Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Orthopedics, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robert Bartha
- Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Neil Duggal
- Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
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11
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Davies BM, Banerjee A, Mowforth OD, Kotter MRN, Newcombe VFJ. Is the type and/or co-existence of degenerative spinal pathology associated with the occurrence of degenerative cervical myelopathy? A single centre retrospective analysis of individuals with MRI defined cervical cord compression. J Clin Neurosci 2023; 117:84-90. [PMID: 37783068 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2023.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) arises from spinal degenerative changes injuring the cervical spinal cord. Most cord compression is incidental, referred to as asymptomatic spinal cord compression (ASCC). How and why ASCC differs from DCM is poorly understood. In this paper, we study a local cohort to identify specific types and groups of degenerative pathology more likely associated with DCM than ASCC. METHODS This study was a retrospective cohort analysis (IRB Approval ID: PRN10455). The frequency of degenerative findings between those with ASCC and DCM patients were compared using network analysis, hierarchical clustering, and comparison to existing literature to identify potential subgroups in a local cohort (N = 155) with MRI-defined cervical spinal cord compression. Quantitative measures of spinal cord compression (MSCC and MCC) were used to confirm their relevance. RESULTS ELF (8.7 %, 95 % CI 3.8-13.6 % vs 35.7 %, 95 % CI 27.4-44.0 %) Congenital Stenosis (3.9 %, 95 % CI 0.6-7.3 % vs 25.0 %, 95 % CI 17.5-32.5 %), and OPLL (0.0 %, 95 % CI 0.0-0.0 % vs 3.6 %, 95 % CI 0.3-6.8 %) were more likely in patients with DCM. Comparative network analysis indicated loss of lordosis was associated with ASCC, whilst ELF with DCM. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis indicated four sub-groups: multi-level disc disease with ELF, single-level disc disease without loss of lordosis and OPLL with DCM, and single-level disc disease with loss of lordosis with ASCC. Quantitative measures of cord compression were higher in groups associated with DCM, but similar in patients with single-level disc disease and loss of lordosis. CONCLUSIONS This study identified four subgroups based on degenerative pathology requiring further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin M Davies
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, UK.
| | - Arka Banerjee
- St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Oliver D Mowforth
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Mark R N Kotter
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, UK
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12
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Sangeorzan I, Antonacci G, Martin A, Grodzinski B, Zipser CM, Murphy RKJ, Andriopoulou P, Cook CE, Anderson DB, Guest J, Furlan JC, Kotter MRN, Boerger TF, Sadler I, Roberts EA, Wood H, Fraser C, Fehlings MG, Kumar V, Jung J, Milligan J, Nouri A, Martin AR, Blizzard T, Vialle LR, Tetreault L, Kalsi-Ryan S, MacDowall A, Martin-Moore E, Burwood M, Wood L, Lalkhen A, Ito M, Wilson N, Treanor C, Dugan S, Davies BM. Toward Shared Decision-Making in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Res Protoc 2023; 12:e46809. [PMID: 37812472 PMCID: PMC10594151 DOI: 10.2196/46809] [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: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Health care decisions are a critical determinant in the evolution of chronic illness. In shared decision-making (SDM), patients and clinicians work collaboratively to reach evidence-based health decisions that align with individual circumstances, values, and preferences. This personalized approach to clinical care likely has substantial benefits in the oversight of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM), a type of nontraumatic spinal cord injury. Its chronicity, heterogeneous clinical presentation, complex management, and variable disease course engenders an imperative for a patient-centric approach that accounts for each patient's unique needs and priorities. Inadequate patient knowledge about the condition and an incomplete understanding of the critical decision points that arise during the course of care currently hinder the fruitful participation of health care providers and patients in SDM. This study protocol presents the rationale for deploying SDM for DCM and delineates the groundwork required to achieve this. OBJECTIVE The study's primary outcome is the development of a comprehensive checklist to be implemented upon diagnosis that provides patients with essential information necessary to support their informed decision-making. This is known as a core information set (CIS). The secondary outcome is the creation of a detailed process map that provides a diagrammatic representation of the global care workflows and cognitive processes involved in DCM care. Characterizing the critical decision points along a patient's journey will allow for an effective exploration of SDM tools for routine clinical practice to enhance patient-centered care and improve clinical outcomes. METHODS Both CISs and process maps are coproduced iteratively through a collaborative process involving the input and consensus of key stakeholders. This will be facilitated by Myelopathy.org, a global DCM charity, through its Research Objectives and Common Data Elements for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy community. To develop the CIS, a 3-round, web-based Delphi process will be used, starting with a baseline list of information items derived from a recent scoping review of educational materials in DCM, patient interviews, and a qualitative survey of professionals. A priori criteria for achieving consensus are specified. The process map will be developed iteratively using semistructured interviews with patients and professionals and validated by key stakeholders. RESULTS Recruitment for the Delphi consensus study began in April 2023. The pilot-testing of process map interview participants started simultaneously, with the formulation of an initial baseline map underway. CONCLUSIONS This protocol marks the first attempt to provide a starting point for investigating SDM in DCM. The primary work centers on developing an educational tool for use in diagnosis to enable enhanced onward decision-making. The wider objective is to aid stakeholders in developing SDM tools by identifying critical decision junctures in DCM care. Through these approaches, we aim to provide an exhaustive launchpad for formulating SDM tools in the wider DCM community. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/46809.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Grazia Antonacci
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Northwest London, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Centre for Health Economics and Policy Innovation (CHEPI), Business School, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anne Martin
- Faculty of Medicine, Health and Social Care, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, United Kingdom
| | - Ben Grodzinski
- University Hospitals Sussex, NHS Foundation Trust, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Carl M Zipser
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Rory K J Murphy
- Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Panoraia Andriopoulou
- Psychology Department, School of Social Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Chad E Cook
- Division of Physical Therapy, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, CA, United States
- Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, CA, United States
- Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, CA, United States
- Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, CA, United States
| | - David B Anderson
- Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - James Guest
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, The Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Julio C Furlan
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The KITE Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mark R N Kotter
- Myelopathy.org, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Clinical Neurosurgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy F Boerger
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | | | | | - Helen Wood
- Myelopathy.org, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Christine Fraser
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Physiotherapy Department, National Health Service Lothian, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Michael G Fehlings
- Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery, Krembil Neuroscience Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Vishal Kumar
- Department of Orthopaedics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
- Department of Orthopaedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Deoghar, India
| | - Josephine Jung
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Neurosurgery, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - James Milligan
- Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Aria Nouri
- Division of Neurosurgery, Geneva University Hospitals, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Allan R Martin
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | | | - Luiz Roberto Vialle
- School of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Lindsay Tetreault
- Department of Neurology, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Sukhvinder Kalsi-Ryan
- The KITE Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Anna MacDowall
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University and Department of Orthopaedics, The Academic Hospital of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | | | - Lianne Wood
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
- NeuroSpinal Assessment Unit, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Abdul Lalkhen
- Northern Care Alliance, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Manabu Ito
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National Hospital Organization Hokkaido Medical Center, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Nicky Wilson
- Physiotherapy Department, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline Treanor
- Department of Physiotherapy, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- School of Physiotherapy, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Benjamin M Davies
- Myelopathy.org, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Clinical Neurosurgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Elkaim LM, Levett JJ, Niazi F, Alvi MA, Shlobin NA, Linzey JR, Robertson F, Bokhari R, Alotaibi NM, Lasry O. Cervical Myelopathy and Social Media: Mixed Methods Analysis. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e42097. [PMID: 37213188 DOI: 10.2196/42097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a progressive neurologic condition caused by age-related degeneration of the cervical spine. Social media has become a crucial part of many patients' lives; however, little is known about social media use pertaining to DCM. OBJECTIVE This manuscript describes the landscape of social media use and DCM in patients, caretakers, clinicians, and researchers. METHODS A comprehensive search of the entire Twitter application programing interface database from inception to March 2022 was performed to identify all tweets about cervical myelopathy. Data on Twitter users included geographic location, number of followers, and number of tweets. The number of tweet likes, retweets, quotes, and total engagement were collected. Tweets were also categorized based on their underlying themes. Mentions pertaining to past or upcoming surgical procedures were recorded. A natural language processing algorithm was used to assign a polarity score, subjectivity score, and analysis label to each tweet for sentiment analysis. RESULTS Overall, 1859 unique tweets from 1769 accounts met the inclusion criteria. The highest frequency of tweets was seen in 2018 and 2019, and tweets decreased significantly in 2020 and 2021. Most (888/1769, 50.2%) of the tweets' authors were from the United States, United Kingdom, or Canada. Account categorization showed that 668 of 1769 (37.8%) users discussing DCM on Twitter were medical doctors or researchers, 415 of 1769 (23.5%) were patients or caregivers, and 201 of 1769 (11.4%) were news media outlets. The 1859 tweets most often discussed research (n=761, 40.9%), followed by spreading awareness or informing the public on DCM (n=559, 30.1%). Tweets describing personal patient perspectives on living with DCM were seen in 296 (15.9%) posts, with 65 (24%) of these discussing upcoming or past surgical experiences. Few tweets were related to advertising (n=31, 1.7%) or fundraising (n=7, 0.4%). A total of 930 (50%) tweets included a link, 260 (14%) included media (ie, photos or videos), and 595 (32%) included a hashtag. Overall, 847 of the 1859 tweets (45.6%) were classified as neutral, 717 (38.6%) as positive, and 295 (15.9%) as negative. CONCLUSIONS When categorized thematically, most tweets were related to research, followed by spreading awareness or informing the public on DCM. Almost 25% (65/296) of tweets describing patients' personal experiences with DCM discussed past or upcoming surgical interventions. Few posts pertained to advertising or fundraising. These data can help identify areas for improvement of public awareness online, particularly regarding education, support, and fundraising.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lior M Elkaim
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jordan J Levett
- Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Farbod Niazi
- Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Mohammed A Alvi
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nathan A Shlobin
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Joseph R Linzey
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Faith Robertson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Rakan Bokhari
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Naif M Alotaibi
- National Neuroscience Institute, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Oliver Lasry
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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14
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Brannigan JFM, Mowforth OD, Rogers M, Wood H, Karimi Z, Kotter MRN, Davies BM. Osteopathy in the Early Diagnosis and Management of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: National Survey. JMIR Form Res 2023; 7:e45248. [PMID: 37159244 DOI: 10.2196/45248] [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: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a common and disabling neurodegenerative condition. Surgical decompression is the only evidence-based treatment to halt disease progression; however, diagnosis and access to timely treatment are often delayed, which contribute to significant disability and dependence. Supporting early diagnosis and access to timely treatment is a critical priority. Exploring these challenges, Myelopathy.org has observed that people with DCM may seek osteopathy care for their symptoms, both before and after diagnosis. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to describe the current interaction between osteopaths and people with DCM and understand how this may be targeted to enhance the DCM diagnostic pathway. METHODS Registered osteopaths in the United Kingdom completed a web-based survey hosted by the Institute of Osteopathy, as part of their institute's 2021 census. Responses were collected from February to May 2021. Demographic information about the respondents was captured, including age, gender, and ethnicity. Professional information captured included the year of qualification; region of practice; type of practice; and number of undiagnosed, operated diagnosed, and unoperated diagnosed DCM cases encountered per year. The completion of the survey was voluntary; however, a prize draw incentive was offered to participants. RESULTS The demographics were heterogenous for the 547 practitioners who completed the survey. There was representation from a wide range of demographic groups, including the level of experience, gender, age, and the region of United Kingdom. At least 68.9% (377/547) of osteopaths reported encounters with DCM each year. Osteopaths most frequently encountered patients with undiagnosed DCM, with a mean of 3 patient encounters per year. This compares to 2 encounters per year with patients with diagnosed DCM. The level of practitioner experience was positively correlated with the detection of undiagnosed DCM (P<.005). The influence of practitioner experience was corroborated by a subgroup analysis looking at the relationship between practitioner age on the detection of undiagnosed DCM. Osteopaths older than 54 years encountered an average of 4.2 cases per year, whereas those younger than 35 years detected 2.9 cases per year. Osteopaths in private clinics reported encounters with a greater mean number (4.4) of undiagnosed DCM cases per year than osteopaths in other clinic types (3.0). CONCLUSIONS Osteopaths reported that they frequently consult people with DCM, including those suspected to have undiagnosed or presurgical DCM. Given this concentrated presentation of early DCM and a workforce professionally trained to examine musculoskeletal disease, osteopaths could have an important role in accelerating access to timely treatment. We included a decision support tool and specialist referral template as a tool to support onward care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie F M Brannigan
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver D Mowforth
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Helen Wood
- Myelopathy.org, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Mark R N Kotter
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin M Davies
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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15
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Hejrati N, Pedro K, Alvi MA, Quddusi A, Fehlings MG. Degenerative cervical myelopathy: Where have we been? Where are we now? Where are we going? Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2023; 165:1105-1119. [PMID: 37004568 DOI: 10.1007/s00701-023-05558-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Abstract
Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM), a recently coined term, encompasses a group of age-related and genetically associated pathologies that affect the cervical spine, including cervical spondylotic myelopathy and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Given the significant contribution of DCM to global disease and disability, there are worldwide efforts to promote research and innovation in this area. An AO Spine effort termed 'RECODE-DCM' was initiated to create an international multistakeholder consensus group, involving patients, caregivers, physicians and researchers, to focus on launching actionable discourse on DCM. In order to improve the management, treatment and results for DCM, the RECODE-DCM consensus group recently identified ten priority areas for translational research. The current article summarizes recent advancements in the field of DCM. We first discuss the comprehensive definition recently refined by the RECODE-DCM group, including steps taken to arrive at this definition and the supporting rationale. We then provide an overview of the recent advancements in our understanding of the pathophysiology of DCM and modalities to clinically assess and diagnose DCM. A focus will be set on advanced imaging techniques that may offer the opportunity to improve characterization and diagnosis of DCM. A summary of treatment modalities, including surgical and nonoperative options, is then provided along with future neuroprotective and neuroregenerative strategies. This review concludes with final remarks pertaining to the genetics involved in DCM and the opportunity to leverage this knowledge toward a personalized medicine approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nader Hejrati
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, 399 Bathurst Street, Suite 4WW-449, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Karlo Pedro
- Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mohammed Ali Alvi
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ayesha Quddusi
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael G Fehlings
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, 399 Bathurst Street, Suite 4WW-449, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada.
- Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Mowforth OD, Burn L, Khan DZ, Yang X, Stacpoole SRL, Gronlund T, Tetreault L, Kalsi-Ryan S, Starkey ML, Sadler I, Sarewitz E, Houlton D, Carter J, Howard P, Rahimi-Movaghar V, Guest JD, Aarabi B, Kwon BK, Kurpad SN, Harrop J, Wilson JR, Grossman R, Smith EK, McNair A, Fehlings MG, Kotter MRN, Davies BM. Lived experience-centred word clouds may improve research uncertainty gathering in priority setting partnerships. BMC Med Res Methodol 2023; 23:100. [PMID: 37087419 PMCID: PMC10122197 DOI: 10.1186/s12874-023-01897-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AO Spine RECODE-DCM was a multi-stakeholder priority setting partnership (PSP) to define the top ten research priorities for degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). Priorities were generated and iteratively refined using a series of surveys administered to surgeons, other healthcare professionals (oHCP) and people with DCM (PwDCM). The aim of this work was to utilise word clouds to enable the perspectives of people with the condition to be heard earlier in the PSP process than is traditionally the case. The objective was to evaluate the added value of word clouds in the process of defining research uncertainties in National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) James Lind Alliance (JLA) Priority Setting Partnerships. METHODS Patient-generated word clouds were created for the four survey subsections of the AO Spine RECODE-DCM PSP: diagnosis, treatment, long-term management and other issues. These were then evaluated as a nested methodological study. Word-clouds were created and iteratively refined by an online support group of people with DCM, before being curated by the RECODE-DCM management committee and expert healthcare professional representatives. The final word clouds were embedded within the surveys administered at random to 50% of participants. DCM research uncertainties suggested by participants were compared pre- and post-word cloud presentation. RESULTS A total of 215 (50.9%) participants were randomised to the word cloud stream, including 118 (55%) spinal surgeons, 52 (24%) PwDCM and 45 (21%) oHCP. Participants submitted 434 additional uncertainties after word cloud review: word count was lower and more uniform across each survey subsections compared to pre-word cloud uncertainties. Twenty-three (32%) of the final 74 PSP summary questions did not have a post-word cloud contribution and no summary question was formed exclusively on post-word cloud uncertainties. There were differences in mapping of pre- and post-word cloud uncertainties to summary questions, with greater mapping of post-word cloud uncertainties to the number 1 research question priority: raising awareness. Five of the final summary questions were more likely to map to the research uncertainties suggested by participants after having reviewed the word clouds. CONCLUSIONS Word clouds may increase the perspective of underrepresented stakeholders in the research question gathering stage of priority setting partnerships. This may help steer the process towards research questions that are of highest priority for people with the condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver D Mowforth
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Lance Burn
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Danyal Z Khan
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Xiaoyu Yang
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sybil R L Stacpoole
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Toto Gronlund
- James Lind Alliance, National Institute for Health Research, Southampton, UK
| | - Lindsay Tetreault
- Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Michelle L Starkey
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Iwan Sadler
- Myelopathy.Org, (Registered Charity England and Wales, No 1178673), Cambridge, UK
| | - Ellen Sarewitz
- The Goffin Consultancy, Goffin Consultancy Ltd, Riding House, Stelling Minnis, Bossingham Road, Canterbury, CT4 6AZ, UK
| | - Delphine Houlton
- Myelopathy.Org, (Registered Charity England and Wales, No 1178673), Cambridge, UK
| | - Julia Carter
- Myelopathy.Org, (Registered Charity England and Wales, No 1178673), Cambridge, UK
| | - Paige Howard
- US Person with DCM Representative - CSU, Bakersfield, CA, USA
| | - Vafa Rahimi-Movaghar
- Academic Department of Neurological Surgery, Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - James D Guest
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Bizhan Aarabi
- Division of Neurosurgery, Shock Trauma, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Brian K Kwon
- Division of Spine Surgery, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Shekar N Kurpad
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - James Harrop
- Division of Neurosurgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Robert Grossman
- Division of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Emma K Smith
- School of General Practice, NHS Health Education East of England, London, UK
| | - Angus McNair
- Center for Surgical Research, Bristol Medical School: Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Mark R N Kotter
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Trust & MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Benjamin M Davies
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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Schaefer SD, Davies BM, Newcombe VF, Sutcliffe MP. Could spinal cord oscillation contribute to spinal cord injury in degenerative cervical myelopathy? BRAIN & SPINE 2023; 3:101743. [PMID: 37383476 PMCID: PMC10293319 DOI: 10.1016/j.bas.2023.101743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy [DCM] is a slow-motion spinal cord injury. Compression and dynamic compression have been considered disease hallmarks. However, this is likely an oversimplification, as compression is more commonly incidental and has only modest correlation to disease severity. MRI studies have recently suggested spinal cord oscillation could play a role. Research question To determine if spinal cord oscillation could contribute to spinal cord injury in degenerative cervical myelopathy. Material and methods A computational model of an oscillating spinal cord was developed from imaging of a healthy volunteer. Using finite element analysis, the observed implications of stress and strain, were measured in the context of a simulated disc herniation. The significance was bench marked by comparison to a more recognised dynamic injury mechanism; a flexion extension model of dynamic compression. Results Spinal cord oscillation altered both compressive and shear strain on the spinal cord. Following initial compression, compressive strain moves from within the spinal cord to the spinal cord surface, whilst shear strain is magnified by 0.1-0.2, depending on the amplitude of oscillation. These orders of magnitude are equivalent to a dynamic compression model. Discussion and conclusion Spinal cord oscillation could significantly contribute to spinal cord damage across DCM. Its repeated occurrence with every heartbeat, draws parallels to the concept of fatigue damage, which could reconcile differing theories on the origins of DCM. This remains hypothetical at this stage, and further investigations are required.
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Prospective Randomized Control Trial to Compare the Role of Injection Cerebrolysin for 10 Days Duration Against Placebo in Operated Cases of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2023; 48:295-300. [PMID: 36730671 DOI: 10.1097/brs.0000000000004542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Prospective randomized control trial. OBJECTIVE To analyze outcomes following the injection of cerebrolysin in surgically treated patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Previous research has concluded that superior functional outcomes are achieved with the use of cerebrolysin in surgically treated patients of DCM for 21 days. Our study has been conducted to analyze the use of this drug for a shorter duration (10 days) and compare its clinical efficacy. METHODS Ninety operated cases of mild to severe DCM were randomized into two groups. Sixty patients received the injection Cerebrolysin for 10 days postoperatively. The remaining 30 patients received a placebo. Functional outcomes were measured using modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) scores and visual analogue scale (VAS). The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale was used to document neurological recovery. Hand function was assessed by measuring the grip strength and the upper limb function score the upper extremity motor mJOA plus upper extremity sensory mJOA score. Assessments were performed and preoperatively and postoperatively and at one-month, three-month, six-month, and one-year following surgery. RESULTS Preoperative mJOA and VAS scores were comparable in both groups ( P >0.05). Both groups experienced an improvement in mJOA and VAS scores at all time-points during follow-up as compared with preoperative scores. However, the cerebrolysin group demonstrated significantly greater mJOA scores (16.37±1) when compared with the placebo (15.2±1.8) at one-year follow-up ( P <0.0001). Neurological improvement with cerebrolysin therapy was also superior ( P =0.04). No significant adverse reactions were documented. CONCLUSION Injection cerebrolysin, when administered for 10 days postoperatively, can result in significantly greater neurological improvement and hand function in patients with DCM who also receive surgery.
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Life expectancy in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy is currently reduced but can be restored with timely treatment. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2023; 165:1133-1140. [PMID: 36856831 PMCID: PMC10140127 DOI: 10.1007/s00701-023-05515-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Degenerative cervical myelopathy is a progressive slow-motion spinal cord injury. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment. Baseline disability predicts surgical recovery; therefore, timely treatment is critical to restoring function. However, current challenges mean most patients present with advanced disease and are instead left with life changing disabilities. While short-term mortality is rarely reported, the long-term effects of this on life expectancy are unknown, including whether function could be modifiable with timely treatment. This article investigates the effect of DCM on life expectancy. METHODS The survival of patients from an observational study of patients undergoing surgery from 1994 to 2007 was compared to their expected survival using a gender- and aged -matched cohort. Comparisons were made by one sample log-rank test and standardised mortality ratios. Factors associated with survival were explored using a Cox regression analysis, including disease severity. RESULTS A total of 357 patients were included in the analysis. After a median follow-up of 15.3 years, 135 of 349 patients had died; 114.7 deaths would have been expected. The DCM cohort had an increased risk of death compared to the non-DCM cohort (standardised mortality ratio 1.18 [95% CI: 1.02-1.34]. Age at operation 1.08 (95% CI: 1.07 to 1.1, p < 0.001) and severe DCM 1.6 (95% CI: 1.06 to 2.3, p = 0.02) were associated with worse survival (N = 287). In those surviving at least 2 years after surgery, only severe DCM was associated with conditional survival (HR 1.6, 95% CI 1.04 2.4, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION Life expectancy is reduced in those undergoing surgery for DCM. This is driven by premature mortality among those left with severe disability. As disability can be reduced with timely treatment, these findings reinforce the need for collective and global action to raise awareness of DCM and enable early diagnosis.
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Evaniew N, Coyle M, Rampersaud YR, Bailey CS, Jacobs WB, Cadotte DW, Thomas KC, Attabib N, Paquet J, Nataraj A, Christie SD, Weber MH, Phan P, Charest-Morin R, Fisher CG, Hall H, McIntosh G, Dea N. Timing of Recovery After Surgery for Patients With Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: An Observational Study From the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network. Neurosurgery 2023; 92:271-282. [PMID: 36637265 DOI: 10.1227/neu.0000000000002213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The time course over which postoperative neurological recovery occurs after surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy occurs is poorly understood. OBJECTIVE To determine the time point at which patients experience significant neurological improvement. METHODS We reviewed data from an ongoing prospective multicenter cohort study. We measured neurological function at 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years after surgery using the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) scale. We implemented minimal clinical important differences (MCIDs) to guide interpretation of mJOA scores, and we used 1-way analysis of variance to compare changes between follow-up intervals. RESULTS Among 330 patients, the mean overall mJOA improved from 12.9 (SD 2.6) to 14.6 (SD 2.4) at 3 months, 14.7 (SD 2.4) at 1 year, and 14.8 (SD 2.5) at 2 years. The difference in means was statistically significant (P < .01) at the interval from baseline to 3 months postoperatively, but not from 3 months to 1 year or 1 year to 2 years. The MCID was reached by 161 patients at 3 months, 32 more at 1 year, and 15 more at 2 years, with a statistically significant difference only at 3 months. Patients with moderate or severe disease reached the MCID more frequently than those with mild disease. CONCLUSION Among patients who underwent surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy, most significant neurological improvement occurred by 3 months after surgery. These findings will facilitate valid discussions about postoperative expectations during shared clinical decision making between patients and their surgeons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Evaniew
- Spine Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Matthew Coyle
- Spine Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Y Raja Rampersaud
- Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christopher S Bailey
- London Health Science Centre Combined Orthopaedic and Neurosurgery Spine Program, Schulich School of Medicine, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - David W Cadotte
- Spine Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | | | | | - Jérôme Paquet
- Department of Surgery, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Andrew Nataraj
- Division of Neurosurgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sean D Christie
- Department of Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Michael H Weber
- Division of Orthopaedics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Philippe Phan
- Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Raphaële Charest-Morin
- Combined Neurosurgery and Orthopaedic Spine Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Charles G Fisher
- Combined Neurosurgery and Orthopaedic Spine Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Hamilton Hall
- Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Nicolas Dea
- Combined Neurosurgery and Orthopaedic Spine Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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21
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Sangeorzan I, Andriopoulou P, Davies BM, McNair A. The information needs of people with degenerative cervical myelopathy: A qualitative study to inform patient education in clinical practice. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285334. [PMID: 37205664 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with lifelong illnesses need access to adequate information about their condition to make optimal health decisions. Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy (DCM) is the most common form of spinal cord dysfunction in adults worldwide. Its chronic and debilitating nature, varied impact, clinical trajectory, and management options necessitate appropriate informational support to sustain effective clinical and self-directed care strategies. However, before clinicians can meet patients' information needs, they must first have an understanding of their baseline requirements. This study explores the information needs of people with DCM (PwCM). In doing so, it provides a starting point for the development of patient education and knowledge management strategies in clinical practice. METHODS Semi-structured interviews with PwCM were conducted using an interview guide. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis according to Braun and Clarke's six-phase approach was used to analyse the data. Findings were reported according to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines. RESULTS Twenty PwCM (65% female, 35% male), with ages ranging from 39 to 74 years old participated in the interviews. The findings indicated that the provision of information to PwCM during clinical interactions varies. Accordingly, PwCM's information needs were broad-ranging, as was the nature of the information they found useful. Three main themes were identified (1) Variation in the provision of information to PwCM during clinical interactions, (2) Variations in the information needs of PwCM, and (3) Information that PwCM find useful. CONCLUSION Efforts must turn to adequately educating patients at the time of the clinical encounter. A comprehensive and consistent patient-centered information exchange in DCM is necessary to achieve this.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Benjamin M Davies
- Myelopathy.org, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
- Academic Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosurgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
| | - Angus McNair
- Centre for Surgical Research, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
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22
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Davies BM, Yanez Touzet A, Mowforth OD, Lee KS, Khan D, Furlan JC, Fehlings MG, Harrop JS, Zipser CM, Rodrigues-Pinto R, Milligan J, Sarewitz E, Curt A, Rahimi-Movaghar V, Aarabi B, Boerger TF, Tetreault L, Chen R, Guest JD, Kalsi-Ryan S, Sadler I, Widdop S, McNair AGK, Kwon BK, Kotter MRN. Development of a core measurement set for research in degenerative cervical myelopathy: a study protocol (AO Spine RECODE-DCM CMS). BMJ Open 2022; 12:e060436. [PMID: 35680260 PMCID: PMC9185555 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Progress in degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is hindered by inconsistent measurement and reporting. This impedes data aggregation and outcome comparison across studies. This limitation can be reversed by developing a core measurement set (CMS) for DCM research. Previously, the AO Spine Research Objectives and Common Data Elements for DCM (AO Spine RECODE-DCM) defined 'what' should be measured in DCM: the next step of this initiative is to determine 'how' to measure these features. This protocol outlines the steps necessary for the development of a CMS for DCM research and audit. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The CMS will be developed in accordance with the guidance developed by the Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials and the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments. The process involves five phases. In phase 1, the steering committee agreed on the constructs to be measured by sourcing consensus definitions from patients, professionals and the literature. In phases 2 and 3, systematic reviews were conducted to identify tools for each construct and aggregate their evidence. Constructs with and without tools were identified, and scoping reviews were conducted for constructs without tools. Evidence on measurement properties, as well as on timing of assessments, are currently being aggregated. These will be presented in phase 4: a consensus meeting where a multi-disciplinary panel of experts will select the instruments that will form the CMS. Following selection, guidance on the implementation of the CMS will be developed and disseminated (phase 5). A preliminary CMS review scheduled at 4 years from release. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Cambridge (HBREC2019.14). Dissemination strategies will include peer-reviewed scientific publications; conference presentations; podcasts; the identification of AO Spine RECODE-DCM ambassadors; and engagement with relevant journals, funders and the DCM community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin M Davies
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alvaro Yanez Touzet
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Oliver D Mowforth
- Department of Academic Neurosurgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Keng Siang Lee
- Bristol Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Danyal Khan
- Academic Neurosurgery Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - Julio C Furlan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael G Fehlings
- Division of Neurosurgery and Spinal Program, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - James S Harrop
- Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Health System, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | | | - Ricardo Rodrigues-Pinto
- Spinal Unit (UVM), Department of Orthopaedics, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto EPE, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Porto, Portugal
| | - James Milligan
- Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Armin Curt
- University Hospital Balgrist, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Vafa Rahimi-Movaghar
- Academic Department of Neurological Surgery, Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bizhan Aarabi
- Division of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Timothy F Boerger
- Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Lindsay Tetreault
- Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Robert Chen
- Neurology, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - James D Guest
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | | | | | | | - Angus G K McNair
- Centre for Surgical Research, Bristol Medical School: Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, Avon, UK
- GI Surgery, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Brian K Kwon
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of British Columbia, Blusson Spinal Cord Center, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mark R N Kotter
- Department of Clinical Neurosurgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Ann McLaren Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Cambridge, UK
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