TREATMENT/MANAGEMENT
Introduction
To help with decisions regarding management of people with DCM, evidence-based international guidelines have recently been created by AO Spine and the Cervical Spine Research Society [1]. It is recommended to urgently refer anyone with DCM to a spinal specialist for a full assessment [2]. People with moderate (mJOA 12–14) or severe (mJOA ≤11) DCM will likely be offered surgery. People with mild (mJOA 15–17) DCM will be offered either surgery or a supervised trial of structured rehabilitation, with regular follow up and progression to surgery in the event of neurological deterioration or failure to improve [1].
People with asymptomatic spinal cord compression without signs or symptoms of radiculopathy will be counselled on their risk of progression and the symptoms and signs of myelopathy, but will not be offered prophylactic surgery. People with asymptomatic cord compression and evidence of radiculopathy will be offered either surgical or non-surgical intervention. Non-surgical intervention entails a supervised trial of structured rehabilitation, with progression to surgery if the person develops symptoms or signs of myelopathy [1].
People with asymptomatic spinal cord compression without signs or symptoms of radiculopathy will be counselled on their risk of progression and the symptoms and signs of myelopathy, but will not be offered prophylactic surgery. People with asymptomatic cord compression and evidence of radiculopathy will be offered either surgical or non-surgical intervention. Non-surgical intervention entails a supervised trial of structured rehabilitation, with progression to surgery if the person develops symptoms or signs of myelopathy [1].
Surgical
The aim of surgery is to alleviate the mechanical stress on the spinal cord [1]. There are both anterior approaches, such as anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, and posterior surgical approaches, such as laminectomy. At present there is no clear evidence that one technique is superior to another [2,3]. A posterior approach is often favoured for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament or multilevel compression involving mostly posterior pathology, whilst an anterior approach is often favoured for restoring lordosis or for approaching anterior pathology over a limited number of segments [4]. The Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Surgical (CSM-S) trial, the first randomised controlled trial of anterior versus posterior surgery for DCM affecting two or more levels, found no difference in function or quality of life outcomes between these approaches [5]. This is discussed in this podcast episode.
The primary aim of surgical intervention is to halt disease progression. However, surgery has also been shown to be effective at improving neurological function, disability, quality of life and pain [6,7]. Nonetheless, recovery is frequently incomplete, and it is not possible to predict the amount or nature of recovery; hence, you should counsel people with DCM that even after surgery they are likely to be left with significant permanent disabilities [1].
Show more +The primary aim of surgical intervention is to halt disease progression. However, surgery has also been shown to be effective at improving neurological function, disability, quality of life and pain [6,7]. Nonetheless, recovery is frequently incomplete, and it is not possible to predict the amount or nature of recovery; hence, you should counsel people with DCM that even after surgery they are likely to be left with significant permanent disabilities [1].
Non-Operative Management
This is an option for people with mild DCM or spinal cord compression without myelopathy [1]. Non-surgical management options include bracing, analgesia, therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, bed rest and avoidance of high-risk activities and environments [2]. Whilst there is no clear evidence of harm of structured non-operative treatment, there is little evidence supporting its overall effectiveness or guiding the use of any specific strategy [3–5]. Preoperative physiotherapy should only be advised by specialist spinal services [1]. You should not perform neck manipulation, such as cervical traction, in pre-operative DCM due to the risk of causing further damage to the spinal cord [1]. In a survey of the Myelopathy.org community (n=197), although ~50% of people with DCM had received physiotherapy, only 1 in 5 reported any benefit [6]. A high proportion of people with DCM undergoing non-surgical management will go on to need surgery in the following few years [5].
Show more +Post-Operative Management
Despite surgical treatment, most individuals with DCM will go on to live with lifelong disabilities, including pain [1–3]. The role of post-operative therapies to enhance recovery or manage residual symptoms has not yet been researched [4] and is a recently identified research priority [5].
Once surgical treatment has been completed, healing has taken place (~12 months) and an individual’s recovery has stabilised, it is considered that the risk of manual therapies normalises to that of the general population.
Whilst there is no evidence at this stage, the Myelopathy.org community indicates that a range of different therapies may help, including hydrotherapy, massage, meditation and mindfulness.
Show more +Once surgical treatment has been completed, healing has taken place (~12 months) and an individual’s recovery has stabilised, it is considered that the risk of manual therapies normalises to that of the general population.
Whilst there is no evidence at this stage, the Myelopathy.org community indicates that a range of different therapies may help, including hydrotherapy, massage, meditation and mindfulness.
References – Introduction
- Fehlings MG, Tetreault LA, Riew KD et al. (2017) A Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Patients With Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Recommendations for Patients With Mild, Moderate, and Severe Disease and Nonmyelopathic Patients With Evidence of Cord Compression. Global Spine Journal 7 (3 Suppl): 70S-83S
- Davies BM, Mowforth OD, Smith EK, Kotter MR (2018) Degenerative cervical myelopathy. BMJ 360 k186
References – Surgical
- Davies BM, Mowforth OD, Smith EK, Kotter MR (2018) Degenerative cervical myelopathy. BMJ 360 k186
- Bajamal AH, Kim S-H, Arifianto MR et al. (2019) Posterior Surgical Techniques for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: WFNS Spine Committee Recommendations. Neurospine 16 (3): 421-434
- Deora H, Kim S-H, Behari S et al. (2019) Anterior Surgical Techniques for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: WFNS Spine Committee Recommendations. Neurospine 16 (3): 408-420
- Kato S, Ganau M, Fehlings MG (2018) Surgical decision-making in degenerative cervical myelopathy – Anterior versus posterior approach. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience 58: 7-12
- Ghogawala Z, Terrin N, Dunbar MR et al. (2021) Effect of Ventral vs Dorsal Spinal Surgery on Patient-Reported Physical Functioning in Patients With Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy. JAMA 325 (10): 942-951
- Fehlings MG, Ibrahim A, Tetreault L et al. (2015) A global perspective on the outcomes of surgical decompression in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy: results from the prospective multicenter AOSpine international study on 479 patients. Spine 40 (17): 1322-1328
- Fehlings MG, Wilson JR, Kopjar B et al. (2013) Efficacy and safety of surgical decompression in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy: results of the AOSpine North America prospective multi-center study. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery American 95 (18): 1651-1658
References – Non-Operative Management
- Fehlings MG, Tetreault LA, Riew KD et al. (2017) A Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Patients With Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Recommendations for Patients With Mild, Moderate, and Severe Disease and Nonmyelopathic Patients With Evidence of Cord Compression. Global Spine Journal 7 (3 Suppl): 70S-83S
- Nouri A, Tetreault L, Singh A et al. (2015) Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Epidemiology, Genetics, and Pathogenesis. Spine 40 (12): E675-93
- Parthiban J, Alves OL, Chandrachari KP et al. (2019) Value of Surgery and Nonsurgical Approaches for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: WFNS Spine Committee Recommendations. Neurospine 16(3): 403-407
- Rhee JM, Shamji MF, Erwin WM et al. (2013) Nonoperative management of cervical myelopathy: a systematic review. Spine 38 (22 Suppl 1): S55-67
- Martin AR, Kalsi-Ryan S, Akbar MA et al. (2021) Clinical outcomes of nonoperatively managed degenerative cervical myelopathy: an ambispective longitudinal cohort study in 117 patients. Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine 34 (6): 821-829
- Butler MB, Mowforth OD, Badran A et al. (2020) Provision and Perception of Physiotherapy in the Nonoperative Management of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy (DCM): A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire of People Living With DCM. Global Spine Journal 219256822096135
References – Post-Operative Management
- Davies BM, Mowforth OD, Smith EK, Kotter MR (2018) Degenerative cervical myelopathy. BMJ 360 k186
- Boerger T, Alsouhibani A, Mowforth O et al. (2021) Moving Beyond the Neck and Arm: The Pain Experience of People With Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy Who Have Pain. Global Spine Journal 219256822098614
- Oh T, Lafage R, Lafage V et al. (2017) Comparing Quality of Life in Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy with Other Chronic Debilitating Diseases Using the SF-36 Survey. World Neurosurgery 106: 699-706
- Badran A, Davies BM, Bailey H-M et al. (2018) Is there a role for postoperative physiotherapy in degenerative cervical myelopathy? A systematic review. Clinical Rehabilitation 32 (9) 1169-1174
- Boerger TE et al. (2022) Developing Peri-Operative Rehabilitation in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy [AO Spine RECODE-DCM Research Priority Number 6]: An unexplored opportunity? Global Spine Journal 12 (1 suppl): 97S-108S