Abstract
Purpose of Study and Background
Degenerative cervical myelopathy resulting in cord compromise is a progressive condition that results in significant quality of life limitations. Surgical treatment options available are anterior and/or posterior decompression of the affected levels. Patients are counselled pre-operatively that the aim of surgical intervention is to help prevent deterioration of neurology. Anecdotal evidence suggested improvements in both EMS and PROMs in this cohort of patients. A 2-year prospective study tested this hypothesis.
Methodology and Results
67 patients undergoing anterior cervical surgery were followed up to two years. Myelopathic features, radiological cord compression, myelomalacia change and levels of surgery were recorded. Pre/post intervention myelopathy scores/grades, and PROM's were recorded. Paired t-test was performed when comparing pre/post intervention scores and Annova test when comparing results across levels. Our prospective study identified statistically significant improvements in European myelopathy scores and grade and patient reported clinical outcomes in the said population.
Conclusions
DCSM patients undergoing anterior surgery demonstrated statistically significant improvement in PROMs and EMS scores and grades. This has been demonstrated irrespective of number of surgical levels.
Conflicts of Interest: None
Sources of Funding: None
Previously presented as a poster at Cervical Spine Research Society, Paris 2020-Virtual Meeting.
