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Route to diagnosis of degenerative cervical myelopathy in a UK healthcare system: a retrospective cohort study.

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cam.issuedOnline2019-05-05
cam.orpheus.successMon Jun 08 08:23:32 BST 2020 - The item has an open VoR version.
dc.contributor.authorHilton, Bryn
dc.contributor.authorTempest-Mitchell, Jennifer
dc.contributor.authorDavies, Benjamin
dc.contributor.authorKotter, Mark
dc.contributor.orcidTempest-Mitchell, Jennifer [0000-0002-3990-140X]
dc.date.accessioned2019-01-17T00:30:22Z
dc.date.available2019-01-17T00:30:22Z
dc.date.issued2019-05-05
dc.description.abstractOBJECTIVES: Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) presents insidiously, making initial diagnosis challenging. Surgery has been shown to prevent further disability but existing spinal cord damage may be permanent. Delays in surgery lead to increased disability and reduced postoperative improvements. Therefore, rapid surgical assessment is key to improving patient outcomes. Unfortunately, diagnosis of DCM in primary care is often delayed. This study aimed to characterise patients with DCM route to diagnosis and surgical assessment as well as to plot disease progression over time. DESIGN: Retrospective, observational cohort study. SETTING: Single, tertiary centre using additional clinical records from primary and secondary care centres. PARTICIPANTS: One year of cervical MRI scans conducted at a tertiary neurosciences centre (n=1123) were screened for cervical cord compression, a corresponding clinical diagnosis of myelopathy and sufficient clinical documentation to plot a route to diagnosis (n=43). PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Time to diagnosis from symptom onset, route to diagnosis and disease progression were the primary outcome measures in this study. Disease severity was approximated using a prospectively validated method for inferring modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (i-mJOA) functional scoring from clinical documentation. RESULTS: Patients received a referral to secondary care 6.4±7.7 months after symptom onset. Cervical MRI scanning and neurosurgical review occurred 12.5±13.0 and 15.8±13.5 months after symptom onset, respectively. i-mJOA was 16.0±1.7 at primary care assessment and 14.8±2.5 at surgical assessment. 61.0% of patients were offered operations. For those who received surgery, time between onset and surgery was 22.1±13.2 months. CONCLUSIONS: Route to surgical assessment was heterogeneous and lengthy. Some patients deteriorated during this period. This study highlights the need for a streamlined pathway by which patients with cervical cord compression can receive timely assessment and treatment by a specialist. This would improve outcomes for patients using existing treatments.
dc.description.sponsorshipResearch in the senior author’s laboratory is supported by a core support grant from the Wellcome Trust and MRC to the Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. MRNK is supported by a NIHR Clinician Scientist Award. Disclaimer: This report is independent research arising from a Clinician Scientist Award, CS-2015-15-023, supported by the National Institute for Health Research. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the National Institute for Health Research or the Department of Health.
dc.format.mediumElectronic
dc.identifier.doi10.17863/CAM.35404
dc.identifier.eissn2044-6055
dc.identifier.issn2044-6055
dc.identifier.urihttps://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/288089
dc.languageeng
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherBMJ
dc.publisher.urlhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027000
dc.subjectcervical
dc.subjectdegeneration
dc.subjectmyelopathy
dc.subjectspondylosis
dc.subjectAged
dc.subjectCervical Vertebrae
dc.subjectCohort Studies
dc.subjectDelivery of Health Care
dc.subjectDisease Progression
dc.subjectFemale
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectMagnetic Resonance Imaging
dc.subjectMale
dc.subjectMiddle Aged
dc.subjectNeurodegenerative Diseases
dc.subjectRetrospective Studies
dc.subjectSpinal Cord Compression
dc.subjectSpinal Cord Diseases
dc.subjectUnited Kingdom
dc.titleRoute to diagnosis of degenerative cervical myelopathy in a UK healthcare system: a retrospective cohort study.
dc.typeArticle
dcterms.dateAccepted2018-11-27
prism.issueIdentifier5
prism.publicationDate2019
prism.publicationNameBMJ Open
prism.startingPagee027000
prism.volume9
pubs.funder-project-idDepartment of Health (via National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)) (CS-2015-15-023)
rioxxterms.licenseref.startdate2019-05-05
rioxxterms.licenseref.urihttp://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved
rioxxterms.typeJournal Article/Review
rioxxterms.versionAM
rioxxterms.versionofrecord10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027000

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