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

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Margetis, Konstantinos 
Pedro, Karlo M 
Curt, Armin 

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.

Description

Keywords

Cervical Vertebrae, Humans, Spinal Cord Diseases, Spinal Cord Injuries

Journal Title

Spinal Cord

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1362-4393
1476-5624

Volume Title

59

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC