spine-education.org

Research Mission:  An assessment of surgical techniques for treating Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.

Myelopathy is a clinical manifestation of a spinal cord lesion either in the cervical and/or thoracic spine.  Most cases involve the cervical spine.  Signs and symptoms can be quite subtle in the early stages that the diagnosis may be missed or wrongly attributed to the "normal" epiphenomenon of aging.  Natural history studies by Clark, Robinson, and Nurick for cervial myelopathy has been one of a stepwise progression and deterioration.  Thus, early recognition and treatment (surgery) is essential for optimal patient outcomes before irreversible spinal cord damage.  There is a lack of consensus in the spine community on the appropriate surgical approach for these patients.  As a result, an international study is taking place to hopefully shed light on this issue.  The purpose of this research is to determine if a posterior approach or an anterior approach has a better outcome by patient follow-up.  Three hundred and twenty-one (321) patients will take part in this study.  The surgeons at the Center for Spinal Disorders are proud to be a part of such a landmark study.