A new article published in The Spine Journal examines outcomes for patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy across the globe.
The study authors examined 757 symptomatic patients who underwent surgical decompression. The patients received surgery in Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America or North America. The study authors found:
1. Patients in North America and Europe were older on average than patients in Latin America and Asia Pacific.
2. Latin American patients reported significantly longer symptom duration before surgery than patients who underwent the procedure in other countries.
3. Spondylosis and disc herniation were the most frequent causes of myelopathy. Patients reported posterior longitudinal ligament ossification was most prevalent in Asia Pacific and Europe. Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy was most prevalent in Latin America.
4. The anterior approach was most common in three regions:
• Europe: 71.43 percent
• North America: 66.25 percent
• Asia Pacific: 60.67 percent
In Latin America, the posterior approach was most common, performed in 66.25 percent of the patients.
5. Patients in North America and Asia Pacific reported the greatest improvement after two years on the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale and Nurick grade. Patients in Asia Pacific and Latin America reported the most significant improvement in the Neck Disability Index and SF-36v2 PCS scores.
6. Patients in Asia Pacific reported the longest hospital stay, at 14 days. Europe had the highest complication rate at 34.9 percent.