ABSTRACT
STUDY DESIGN: Delayed diagnosis of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is associated with reduced quality of life and greater disability. Developing diagnostic criteria for DCM has been identified as a top research priority. OBJECTIVES: This scoping review aims to address the following questions: What is the diagnostic accuracy and frequency of clinical symptoms in patients with DCM? METHODS: A scoping review was conducted using a database of all primary DCM studies published between 2005 and 2020. Studies were included if they (i) assessed the diagnostic accuracy of a symptom using an appropriate control group or (ii) reported the frequency of a symptom in a cohort of DCM patients. RESULTS: This review identified three studies that discussed the diagnostic accuracy of various symptoms and included a control group. An additional 58 reported on the frequency of symptoms in a cohort of patients with DCM. The most frequent and sensitive symptoms in DCM include unspecified paresthesias (86%), hand numbness (82%) and hand paresthesias (79%). Neck and/or shoulder pain was present in 51% of patients with DCM, whereas a minority had back (19%) or lower extremity pain (10%). Bladder dysfunction was uncommon (38%) although more frequent than bowel (23%) and sexual impairment (4%). Gait impairment is also commonly seen in patients with DCM (72%). CONCLUSION: Patients with DCM present with many different symptoms, most commonly sensorimotor impairment of the upper extremities, pain, bladder dysfunction and gait disturbance. If patients present with a combination of these symptoms, further neuroimaging is indicated to confirm the diagnosis of DCM.
ABSTRACT
STUDY DESIGN: Delayed diagnosis of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is likely due to a combination of its subtle symptoms, incomplete neurological assessments by clinicians and a lack of public and professional awareness. Diagnostic criteria for DCM will likely facilitate earlier referral for definitive management. OBJECTIVES: This systematic review aims to determine (i) the diagnostic accuracy of various clinical signs and (ii) the association between clinical signs and disease severity in DCM? METHODS: A search was performed to identify studies on adult patients that evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of a clinical sign used for diagnosing DCM. Studies were also included if they assessed the association between the presence of a clinical sign and disease severity. The QUADAS-2 tool was used to evaluate the risk of bias of individual studies. RESULTS: This review identified eleven studies that used a control group to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of various signs. An additional 61 articles reported on the frequency of clinical signs in a cohort of DCM patients. The most sensitive clinical tests for diagnosing DCM were the Tromner and hyperreflexia, whereas the most specific tests were the Babinski, Tromner, clonus and inverted supinator sign. Five studies evaluated the association between the presence of various clinical signs and disease severity. There was no definite association between Hoffmann sign, Babinski sign or hyperreflexia and disease severity. CONCLUSION: The presence of clinical signs suggesting spinal cord compression should encourage health care professionals to pursue further investigation, such as neuroimaging to either confirm or refute a diagnosis of DCM.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: posterior urethral injuries can occur in polytrauma settings, and may contribute to morbidity post-trauma. The aim of this study is to determine the occurrence of pelvic fracture urethral injury (PFUI) in adult polytrauma patients who were successfully stabilized and to appraise the nature of associated injuries. Methods: the medical records of stabilized polytrauma patients≥ 18 years of age from January 2010 to December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed focusing on those presenting with bony pelvis disruptions. Injuries were categorized using the injury severity scale (ISS) while bony pelvis disruptions were classed according to the Young-Burgess classification. Data on the demography of the patient, mechanism of injury, nature, and severity of injuries, class of pelvic fracture-disruption, and urethral integrity were collected and analyzed accordingly. Results: of 111 patients with bony pelvis disruptions, 95 of them had adequate information and were included in our analysis. The mean age of participants was 37.3 ± 11.8 years and most of them were males (87.4%). Blunt pelvic trauma occurred in 96.8%. Lateral compression pelvic injuries were prevalent at 39.0%. In 54.7% of the patients, the injury severity score (ISS) was ≥ 27. At 25.3% and 24.2% respectively, the abdomen and the lower extremities most frequently sustained a grade ≥ 3 injuries (abbreviated injury scale (AIS) ≥3). At a rate of 2.1%, spinal cord injury was the least observed. In the 10 years, there were 6 PFUI among 83 stabilized polytraumatized men with mean ISS of 35.5 ± 8.3. The incidence rate of PFUI was 0.6 per 8.3 pelvic disruptions in men per year. Symphysis pubis disruption or fracture of the pubis or both was consistently seen in all PFUI. Higher ISS significantly relates to PFUI (p <0.001). The mechanism of bony pelvis disruption and the class of bony pelvis injury are determined by the severity and trajectory of the impact apparently relates to PFUI only through fracture-disruption of the pubic symphysis or the pubis. Conclusion: about 7.2% of men presenting with traumatic disruption of the bony pelvis in polytrauma setting sustain PFUI. In polytrauma settings, PFUI should be suspected in cases of fracture-disruption of the pubis or symphysis pubis from any mechanism.
