FEM (Finite Element Method) analyses the impact of mechanical loads e.g. 'stress'. It was principally used in engineering (for example aerospace), but increasingly also medical research At the moment, we do not have medical investigations which are able to represent accurately the significance of spinal cord injury. For example, you could have two patients with exactly the same MRI changes, one who is without symptoms and th [...]
By Timothy BoergerReviewed by B.DaviesReason for the studyThe number of times a paper is cited is a common metric of how meaningful that paper is to the scientific community. Generally, papers that are highly cited have a profound impact on their field. If scientists look at the trends of which papers are most cited, it can give us an idea of what topics within a scientific discipline are experiencing the most interest over time.MethodsThe prominent journals publishing resear [...]
By A.WillisonReviewed by B.DaviesHumans require many different repair and renewal strategies. At the earliest point in life, we need these pathways to grow and develop but in later life, we use these pathways to recover from disease and injury. For this, our bodies activate a unique type of cell known as a stem cell. Stem cells are a special form of cell, as they can make any cell type in the body, and so can provide building blocks for our organs and tissues. Over the past 20 year [...]
By T.BoergerReviewed by. BM DaviesReason for the StudyWalking impairments are a common feature of cervical myelopathy and can lead to falls. In elderly individuals such falls, even if minor, can lead to injuries, such as broken bones. Broken bones (‘fractures’) are more common as we get older, as aging affects bone strength, including conditions such as osteoporosis. Such fractures generally occur in stereotyped locations such as the wrist, shoulder, hip, and low b [...]
By Timothy Boerger Edited by Benjamin DaviesResearch Summary on MRI Methods for Predicting Functional Recovery from Surgery in Patients with Cervical Myelopathy.Rao A et al., Diffusion Tensor Imaging in a Large Longitudinal Series of Patients With Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Correlated With Long-Term Functional Outcome. Neurosurgery. Epub ahead of print Feb 23, 2018Reason for the studyCurrently, the assessment of the impact of cervical myelopathy is based largely on patient reported sy [...]
By B.Samara Swelling is a common reaction of your body to any form of injury; remember the last time you banged your finger, or perhaps twisted your ankle? So unsurprisingly, it can happen to the spinal cord and has been reported in patients with CSM. However, it is not present in all patients and its significance is not certain. In addition to this, some studies have now described that the spinal cord can swell after surgery. The reason for this is unclear and equa [...]
by A Badran At present, surgery is the mainstay of treatment for myelopathy. Whilst it is able to stop further injury to the spinal cord by relieving impingement, the limited capacity for the spinal cord to repair leads to only partial recovery. Therefore strategies to improve recovery after surgery are a major unmet need in myelopathy. This has generated much interest in postoperative therapies to maximise posto [...]
By J.Hamilton. Why is ASCC relevant to Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy?Asymptomatic spinal cord compression (ASCC) is very common; studies of healthy volunteers has identified between 8 and 59 in every 100 patients who underwent a cervical MRI had it! [1] These are the same compression features seen in DCM, however less that 1 in a hundred patients from these studies had any symptoms of myelopathy…. Hence the term ASCC (as opposed to DCM, which is defined by the symptom [...]
by Max Stewart Freddie Mercury immortalising the Queen song 'Under Pressure' One of the most perplexing things about DCM is the role of spinal cord compression in the disease. It easy to think that the picture is a simple one: as the spine degenerates (joints wearing out, ligaments hardening and bones shifting position) the spinal cord gradually becomes compressed. This compression damages the spinal cord, kills off nerves cells a [...]
By Timothy BoergerReviewed by B.DaviesNeck Muscles and CSM– An Update Part 2 of 2This second of a 2-part mini-series on the properties of muscles in the neck and how they impact outcomes of surgery. We previously looked at this following an early piece of research from North America. This series will serve as an update on this research.Why was this study conducted?For a short recap of the previous 2 blogs related to this: how much fat there is within muscles has b [...]
