Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 2023 · DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043690 · Published: February 19, 2023
Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) involves spinal cord damage from compression in the cervical spine, often requiring surgery. While MRI confirms the diagnosis, it lacks functional information. Neurophysiological tests like SSEPs and TMS can assess spinal cord function, aiding diagnosis and post-surgery monitoring. This study examines 24 DCM patients who had surgery and underwent neurophysiological testing before and after the procedure.
Neurophysiological tests can support clinical diagnosis, especially when MRI findings are normal but symptoms suggest DCM.
Early surgical intervention may be considered based on neurophysiological evidence of spinal cord dysfunction, potentially preventing long-term neurological sequelae.
Clinical follow-up might be sufficient for assessing post-operative outcomes, while neurophysiological tests, if used, should be assessed one year after surgery.