Degenerative cervical myelopathy.

Consider degenerative cervical myelopathy in patients over 50 with progressive neurological symptoms, such as pain and stiffness in the neck or limbs, imbalance, numbness, loss of dexterity, frequent falls, and/or incontinence

Perform a full neurological assessment as early symptoms are subtle and non-specific

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is essential to detect degenerative changes in the cervical spine and cord compression

Time is Spine: Refer patients with suspected DCM promptly to a specialist for consideration of spinal surgery, as delayed diagnosis can lead to residual symptoms and functional disability

A 54 year old man presents with neck stiffness for about a year. He complains of numbness in his fingers and difficulty buttoning up his shirt, which has not improved following surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. Of late, he has experienced unsteadiness and has started to use a walking stick after sustaining falls. He sees a neurologist who identifies hyperreflexia in his arms and legs. An MRI scan shows multilevel cervical spondylosis and disc herniation causing cord compression. He is diagnosed with degenerative cervical myelopathy and referred to spinal surgery for operative decompression.

What is degenerative cervical myelopathy?

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM), earlier referred to as cervical spondylotic myelopathy, involves spinal cord dysfunction from compression in the neck.1 Patients report neurological symptoms such as pain and numbness in limbs, poor coordination, imbalance, and bladder problems. Owing to its mobility, the vertebral column of the neck is particularly prone to degenerative changes such as disc herniation, ligament hypertrophy or ossification, and osteophyte formation. These changes are more common with age2 (box 1) and are often collectively termed spondylosis (fig 1).3

Fig 1

Pathology of DCM. (A) Anatomy of an initially healthy spine (C2 level), with examples of the potential pathological changes that can occur and cause DCM (shown at lower spinal levels; C3-7).1 (B) Sagittal section from a T2-weighted MRI scan showing multilevel degenerative changes in the cervical spine. The spinal cord is compressed at C3/4 by a disc prolapse (white arrow) and at C5/6 by spondylosis, thickening of the posterior longitudinal ligament, and a disc-osteophyte complex (white star). However, this is not associated with high signal changes in the cord on MRI (Figure reproduced with permission from Michael G Fehlings, University of Toronto)3

The epidemiology of DCM is poorly understood, in part because of the difficulties in diagnosis.3

The prevalence of surgically treated DCM is estimated as 1.6 per 100 000 inhabitants.4 The actual prevalence is likely to be much higher

The incidence of DCM is expected to rise with an ageing population.2 3 Most patients are first diagnosed in their 50s; DCM is uncommon before the age of 40

Studies in healthy volunteers have shown that incidental cervical cord compression is commonly detected on MRI, and becomes more common with age.5 6 In a series of randomly selected volunteers aged 40-80, incidental cervical cord compression was detected on MRI in 59% of individuals (108/183, ranging from 31.6% in the fifth decade to 66.8% in the eighth decade). Only two individuals reported related symptoms2

A proportion of individuals with asymptomatic cord compression will go on to develop DCM. The exact figure is unknown. The only prospective study to consider this (n=199) found that 8% of individuals with asymptomatic cord compression will develop DCM after one year and 22% in total over the observation period (median follow-up 44 months, range 2-12 years)7

Many patients with DCM remain undiagnosed. A small study in 66 patients with hip fracture found 18% of patients who were previously undiagnosed to have clinical findings suggestive of DCM8

Why is it missed?

Non-specific and subtle early features that overlap with other neurological conditions can delay the diagnosis.9 Incomplete neurological assessment by professionals10 with a poor awareness of the disease11 further contributes to delay. A retrospective study of medical records of 42 patients in Israel who underwent surgery for DCM noted an average delay of 2.2 years (range 1.7 months to 8.9 years) from initiation of symptoms to diagnosis. On average, 5.2 ±3.6 consultations were required before a diagnosis was made.10 Forty three per cent of these patients had symptoms of numbness and pain in hands, and were initially diagnosed and sometimes treated for carpal tunnel syndrome.10 In our clinical experience, the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, especially when diagnosed bilaterally, is often incorrect and DCM usually accounts for these symptoms.

Why does this matter?

Spinal cord compression results in progressive neurological decline and affects quality of life.12 Left untreated, it can lead to tetraplegia and wheelchair dependence (data on how many patients with DCM progress in this way are unavailable). Surgical decompression can halt the disease progression, however, the regenerative capacity of the spinal cord is limited and any damage is often permanent. Delayed treatment leads to poorer outcomes and lifelong disability. Findings from the AOSpine series (746 patients with DCM) indicate that treatment within six months of symptoms offers the best chance of recovery,13 but this time frame is some way from current average diagnosis times.10

How is it diagnosed?

Detecting early DCM can be challenging. A high index of suspicion, alongside a comprehensive neurological examination is advised. Box 2 outlines common symptoms and examination findings in DCM.

Neck pain/stiffness

Unilateral or bilateral limb/body pain

Upper limb weakness, numbness, or loss of dexterity

Lower limb stiffness, weakness, or sensory loss

Paraesthesia (tingling or pins and needles sensations)

Autonomic symptoms such as bowel or bladder incontinence, erectile dysfunction, or difficulty passing urine

Imbalance/unsteadiness

Falls

Motor signs

o Pyramidal weakness (Upper limb; extensors more than flexors. Lower limb: flexors more than extensors)

o Limb hyperreflexia

o Spasticity (eg, clasp knife sign)

o Clonus, especially Achilles tendon

o Hoffman’s sign (thumb adduction/flexion +/− finger flexion after forced flexion and sudden release of a finger, distally)

o Babinski’s sign (upgoing plantar)

o Segmental weakness (corresponding to the level of compression)

Sensory loss (limb and/or trunk)

Lhermitte’s sign (electric shock sensation down the spine, or into the limbs, on neck flexion or extension, present in severe cases)

Gait disturbance

Clinical

Pain is a common reason to seek treatment. Musculoskeletal pain might be present in the neck, while neuropathic pain can affect upper and lower limbs and occasionally the trunk. Patients often report neck stiffness, at times without pain. A textbook case would describe gait dysfunction and bilateral hand impairment. Frequently not all symptoms are present. For example, pain might be absent and symptoms can be unilateral and vary in severity, even on a daily basis.9 Atypical symptoms such as headaches and muscle cramps are also reported.9

The more consistent feature of DCM is the evolution of symptoms. Most patients describe symptoms that have been ongoing for months and getting worse.9 The rate of progression varies; in some individuals symptoms remain mild over extended periods of time, while in others disease progression accelerates. Functional decline can be insidious, and patients might mistakenly attribute these symptoms to “getting older.” Typical features include loss of dexterity (difficulty doing up buttons, using keys, mobile phones, or writing) or mobility (use of walking aids or frequent falls).

Symptoms might precede objective examination findings.9 14 As in focal central nervous system disorders, examination features in DCM have a low sensitivity—that is, a normal finding does not exclude the disease— but high specificity—that is, an abnormal finding is highly suggestive of the disease.5 14 Features can be mild and difficult to elicit in the initial stages of disease.

Investigations

Request an MRI scan of the cervical spine to detect cord compression (fig 1) in suspected DCM. An urgent MRI is required for patients with progressive disease and/or symptoms that substantially affect quality of life. In patients with mild symptoms, a non-urgent MRI might be requested. Bear in mind that the extent of spinal cord compression and signal changes in the cord on the MRI scan do not correlate well with the severity of symptoms.3 Even mild compression can account for severe disease.

The pathway to diagnosis varies depending on local services. In the UK, for example, many primary care physicians do not have direct access to MRI imaging and referral to neurology might be warranted.

How is it managed?

Often cord compression is an incidental finding and at least initially does not cause symptoms.2 Reassure the patient that no further management is required at this stage but advise them to report any symptoms promptly in the future.

Guidelines from AOSpine1an international community of spine surgeons advise that all patients with DCM should be assessed by a specialist surgeon, who might fall under the remit of neurosurgery or orthopaedics. The guidelines use the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association score, which classifies patients as having mild or severe symptoms based on arm, leg, and bladder function.1 Surgery is recommended in patients with moderate or severe DCM and in those with disease progression. Treatment of symptoms (for pain, for example) and regular follow-up might be offered for patients with mild, stable DCM.

The AOSpine series showed that decompressive surgery can halt disease progression and enable meaningful, albeit limited, recovery across a range of measures including pain, function, and quality of life.15 The optimal timing of surgery is debatable because the progression of disease is poorly understood.9 Preoperative physiotherapy should only be advised by specialist services1; neck manipulation is strictly contraindicated as it might cause further damage.16

It is not possible to predict the long term outcome of surgery. Maximal recovery occurs at around 6-12 months. Residual symptoms beyond this are likely to be permanent and should be managed appropriately. Functional deficits are common, and include falls and reduced mobility, incontinence, depression, sleep deficits, and struggles with self-care, and often the most troublesome symptom is pain. Discuss with your patient that complete resolution of pain is unlikely. Neuropathic analgesia and anti-spasticity medication can be offered to manage the pain. Early referral to specialist pain clinics is often helpful.

Ask patients to report any worsening or new symptoms or signs as untreated levels of the cervical spine might further degenerate and cause spinal cord compression.

What features would prompt you to suspect DCM in a patient?

How would you explain a diagnosis of DCM to your patient?

Are you aware of the appropriate local pathways for arranging an urgent MRI scan for patients with suspected DCM?

After reading this article, are there any aspects of imaging or referral that you would approach differently?

This article was reviewed and endorsed by individuals experiencing DCM who were part of a committee at Myelopathy.org. The committee was keen to emphasise the possible prevalence of DCM and its long term effects, even after surgery. More specifically, it was involved in shaping the paragraph “What is DCM?”

Myelopathy.org (www.myelopathy.org) is the first organisation dedicated to raising awareness, providing information, and supporting research for DCM. It provides a forum for individuals to communicate their experiences of DCM and offers peer to peer support to patients. Reports of delayed and/or misdiagnosis are common, which result from a lack of awareness among frontline medical specialties, particularly primary care. The committee proposed an educational initiative, which included this article.