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Novel Insights into Clinical Diagnosis and Management of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Clinical Neurology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2025 | Viewed by 388

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Guest Editor
Department of Neurosurgery, IRCSS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Alessandro Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Italy
Interests: spine; spinal surgery; spinal biomechanics; microneurosurgery; vertebral oncology; neuroanatomy; back pain

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Guest Editor
Spine Surgery Unit (NCH4), Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy
Interests: spine surgery; imaging; spinal surgery; spinal cord injury; neuro-oncology; tumors; computed tomography; navigation; economic analysis; biomechanics
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Guest Editor
Spine Surgery Unit, Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00136 Rome, Italy
Interests: spine; spine surgery; spinal cord; microneurosurgery; cervical myelopathy; spine tumors; vertebral oncology; back pain
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a significant neurological condition characterized by progressive spinal cord compression, resulting in a spectrum of debilitating symptoms. The pathophysiology of DCM is complex, involving a combination of age-related degenerative changes, leading to spinal cord compression and subsequent neurological dysfunction. The impact of DCM on patients' quality of life is substantial, affecting their ability to perform daily activities, maintain employment, and engage in social interactions. Effective management of DCM requires a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing accurate diagnosis, appropriate surgical and non-surgical interventions, and comprehensive rehabilitation.

This Special Issue aims to publish high-quality research articles and reviews that advance our understanding of the diagnosis and management of DCM. The focus will be on novel insights and innovative approaches that improve patient outcomes. In this Special Issue, we welcome original research articles and comprehensive reviews. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Novel diagnostic approaches:
    • Advanced imaging techniques (e.g., high-resolution MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, and dynamic MRI);
    • Biomarkers for early detection and disease progression;
    • Clinical prediction rules for improved diagnostic accuracy.
  • Surgical interventions:
    • Minimally invasive surgical techniques;
    • Novel instrumentation and technologies;
    • Post-operative rehabilitation strategies.
  • Non-surgical management:
    • Medical management (e.g., pain management, medications);
    • Physical therapy and rehabilitation interventions;
    • Complementary and alternative therapies.
  • Epidemiology, classification, and clinical outcomes:
    • Long-term outcomes of surgical and non-surgical interventions;
    • Quality of life assessment in patients with DCM;
    • Socioeconomic impact of DCM.

We encourage submissions that address the clinical challenges faced by patients with DCM and offer innovative solutions for improved diagnosis and management.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Carlo Brembilla
Dr. Francesco Costa
Dr. Filippo Maria Polli
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM)
  • cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM)
  • cervical spinal stenosis
  • cervical cord compression
  • MRI of the cervical spine
  • cervical spine surgery
  • physical therapy
  • rehabilitation
  • ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL)
  • cervical deformity (e.g., kyphosis and lordosis)
  • patient-reported out-comes
  • surgical outcome prediction

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

11 pages, 2096 KiB  
Article
Assessing Surgical Outcomes in Cervical Degenerative Disease: The Role of Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring
by Delia Cannizzaro, Carlo Cossa, Giovanni Marco Sicuri, Matteo Riccardo Minotti, Lucia Politini, Jad El Choueiri, Francesca Matteo, Angelo Rusconi and Roberto Stefini
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(11), 3771; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14113771 - 28 May 2025
Viewed by 249
Abstract
Background: Cervical degenerative disease is a common condition associated with significant morbidity, often presenting as neck pain, radiculopathy, or myelopathy. Its growing incidence, particularly in the aging population, has led to an increased demand for surgical interventions aimed at relieving neural compression and [...] Read more.
Background: Cervical degenerative disease is a common condition associated with significant morbidity, often presenting as neck pain, radiculopathy, or myelopathy. Its growing incidence, particularly in the aging population, has led to an increased demand for surgical interventions aimed at relieving neural compression and restoring spinal stability. Objective: This study aims to evaluate surgical outcomes in patients with degenerative cervical conditions, with a particular focus on the role of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) in preventing adverse neurological events both immediately postoperatively and at long-term follow-up. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on patients who underwent cervical spine surgery for degenerative conditions between January 2021 and June 2024. Data collected included demographics, comorbidities, surgical details, and intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring. Surgical outcomes were assessed using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), Odom’s Criteria, and the modified Japanese Association (mJOA) score. Results: Key findings demonstrated that advanced age and the presence of preoperative myelopathy were significantly associated with poorer postoperative outcomes across all evaluated measures. Conversely, factors such as gender, surgical approach, and the number of treated levels did not significantly influence recovery. Although intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) did not show an immediate effect on postoperative outcomes, it was linked to prognostic value for long-term neurological status, suggesting a potential protective role in preserving neurological function. Conclusions: This study identifies age, preoperative functional status, and myelopathy as crucial predictors of postoperative recovery in cervical spine surgery for degenerative disease. These findings underscore the importance of early intervention in patients with myelopathy and highlight the complex role of IONM in improving long-term neurological outcomes. IONM changes may help identify patients at higher risk of poor recovery who could benefit from intensive postoperative rehabilitation. Further prospective studies are warranted to elucidate the complex interactions between patient characteristics and surgical factors in optimizing postoperative recovery. Full article
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