Developing New Surgical Guidelines for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy in Chinese Adults Aged 45 and Older

What this Trial Is About

Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy DCM is an age-related condition mainly affecting people aged 50 and over, caused by changes in the spine like ligament ossification or disc problems that compress the cervical spinal cord. It leads to symptoms such as hand numbness, clumsiness, and difficulty walking. This research aims to develop new surgical criteria based on physical performance tests alongside MRI and clinical signs to better guide surgery decisions for DCM, focusing on the Chinese population. The study involves confirming DCM diagnosis using MRI and orthopedic surgeon evaluation. Researchers will use physical performance tests such as the 10-second Grip and Release test, 10-second Stepping Test, and Foot Tapping Test over 24 months to assess functional deficits. These tests, combined with clinical indicators and MRI findings, will help establish objective criteria to predict the need for surgery. Participants will be evaluated regularly for their physical abilities and neurological function using these performance tests. The study will monitor changes over 24 months to assess hand and gait coordination. Researchers will also use clinical signs and patient cognitive ability to understand symptom progression. The goal is to improve surgical decision-making and recovery outcomes by identifying clear physical performance benchmarks in DCM patients.

A Novel Surgical Criteria for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy in Chinese Ethnicity