The Frequency of Symptoms in Patients With a Diagnosis of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Results of a Scoping Review
Journal
Global Spine Journal
ISSN
2192-5682
2192-5690
Date Issued
2023
Author(s)
Zhilin Jiang
Benjamin Davies
Carl Zipser
Konstantinos Margetis
Allan Martin
Stavros Matsoukas
Freschta Zipser-Mohammadzada
Najmeh Kheram
Andrea Boraschi
Elina Zakin
Oke Righteous Obadaseraye
Michael G. Fehlings
Jamie Wilson
Chad E. Cook
Jamie Milligan
Julia Tabrah
Shirley Widdop
Lianne Wood
Elizabeth A. Roberts
Tanzil Rujeedawa
Lindsay Tetreault
Type
Resource Types::text::journal::journal article
URL Institutional Repository
Abstract
<jats:sec><jats:title>Study Design</jats:title><jats:p> 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. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Objectives</jats:title><jats:p> This scoping review aims to address the following questions: What is the diagnostic accuracy and frequency of clinical symptoms in patients with DCM? </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p> 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. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p> 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%). </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p> 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. </jats:p></jats:sec>
Cite this document
Jiang, Z., Davies, B., Zipser, C., Margetis, K., Martin, A., Matsoukas, S., Zipser-Mohammadzada, F., Kheram, N., Boraschi, A., Zakin, E., Obadaseraye, O. R., Fehlings, M. G., Wilson, J., Yurac, R., Cook, C. E., Milligan, J., Tabrah, J., Widdop, S., Wood, L., … AO Spine RECODE-DCM Diagnostic Criteria Incubator. (2024). The frequency of symptoms in patients with a diagnosis of degenerative cervical myelopathy: Results of a scoping review. Global Spine Journal, 14(4), 1395-1421. https://doi.org/10.1177/21925682231210468
Subjects
cervical
;
degenerative disc disease
;
myelopathy
;
apraxia
;
bladder dysfunction
;
cervical myelopathy
;
disability
;
dyskinesia
;
electromyography
;
frequency
;
human
;
hydronephrosis
;
hyperalgesia
;
intestine
;
low back pain
;
lower limb
;
meniere disease
;
neck pain
;
neuroimaging
;
paresthesia
;
preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses
;
prevalence
;
quality of life
;
questionnaire
;
radicular pain
;
range of motion
;
review
;
scoping review
;
sensitivity and specificity
;
shoulder pain
;
symptom
;
tremor
;
upper limb