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Review
. 2021 Nov;59(11):1216-1218.
doi: 10.1038/s41393-021-00711-8. Epub 2021 Oct 9.

Increasing awareness of degenerative cervical myelopathy: a preventative cause of non-traumatic spinal cord injury

Carl M Zipser  1 , Konstantinos Margetis  2 , Karlo M Pedro  3 , Armin Curt  4 , Michael Fehlings  5 , Iwan Sadler  6 , Lindsay Tetreault  7 , Benjamin M Davies  8 ; AO Spine RECODE DCM Steering Committee; Members of the Diagnostic Criteria Working Group
Collaborators, Affiliations
Review

Increasing awareness of degenerative cervical myelopathy: a preventative cause of non-traumatic spinal cord injury

Carl M Zipser et al. Spinal Cord. 2021 Nov.

Abstract

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a common non-traumatic spinal cord disorder and characterized by progressive neurological impairment. Generally, it is still underdiagnosed and referral to spine specialists is often late, when patients already present with incomplete cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). To improve early diagnosis and accelerate referral, diagnostic criteria for DCM are required. Recently, AO Spine RECODE- DCM (REsearch Objectives and Common Data Elements for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy) (aospine.org/recode), an international, interdisciplinary and interprofessional initiative, including patients with DCM, was funded with the aim to accelerate knowledge discovery that can change outcomes. In this perspective we advocate for the participation of SCI specialists in this process, where the expertise and perspective on this disorder and requirements for the diagnostic and therapeutic work up is well developed.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Infographic providing an overview why diagnostic criteria for DCM are needed.
The panels summarize shortcomings in patient care and research which diagnostic criteria for DCM can help to overcome.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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