ArticlePloS one2023
Targeting earlier diagnosis: What symptoms come first in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy?
Article in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 25 citations in OpenAlex.
- Pooled it
- Characterizing proprioceptive dysfunction as an early sensory indicator of mild Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy.North American Spine Society journal · 2026Article
- Diagnostic and Surgical Decision-Making for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A Survey With Post-Stratification Analysis.Global spine journal · 2026Article
- Article
- Epidemiology of hospitalization and surgical therapy in degenerative cervical myelopathy: A Nationwide discharge-based twenty year analysis.International orthopaedics · 2026Article
- Healthcare Provider Perspectives of Various Signs and Symptoms for Diagnosing Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Results of an International, Multidisciplinary Survey.Muscle & nerve · 2026Article
- Unveiling the Unexpected: Co-Occurrence of Brain Tumor and Spine Pathology Revealed After Spinal Surgery.Case reports in neurological medicine · 2026Article
- Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy Diagnosis and Its Differentiation from Neurological Mimics, MS and ALS: A Literature Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
- Antibiotic administration decreases microglia and macrophage recruitment in a sex-dependent manner following Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy.Molecular neurobiology · 2025Article
- Evaluating Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist's Self-Perceived Knowledge and Understanding of the Assessment, Diagnosis and Management of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A Cross-Sectional Survey.Musculoskeletal care · 2025Article
- Understanding degenerative cervical myelopathy in musculoskeletal practice.The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy · 2025Review
- Article
- Cervical spondylotic myelopathy and radiculopathy: a stepwise approach and comparative analysis of surgical outcomes: a narrative review of recent literature.Asian spine journal · 2025Article
- The diagnostic journey of patients being investigated for myopathy in a tertiary centre in England.Journal of neurology · 2024Article
- Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: History, Physical Examination, and Diagnosis.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Review
- Machine Learning and Symptom Patterns in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Web-Based Survey Study.JMIR formative research · 2024Article
- Flipping the mJOA: Clinical utility of the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association score as a tool for detecting degenerative cervical myelopathy.Brain & spine · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors at 7 institutions in 6 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDegenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a common and disabling condition. Early effective treatment is limited by late diagnosis. Conventional descriptions of DCM focus on motor and sensory limb disability, however, recent work suggests the true impact is much broader. This study aimed to characterise the symptomatic presentation of DCM from the perspective of people with DCM and determine whether any of the reported symptoms, or groups of symptoms, were associated with early diagnosis.
methodsAn internet survey was developed, using an established list of patient-reported effects. Participants (N = 171) were recruited from an online community of people with DCM. Respondents selected their current symptoms and primary presenting symptom. The relationship of symptoms and their relationship to time to diagnosis were explored. This included symptoms not commonly measured today, termed 'non-conventional' symptoms.
resultsAll listed symptoms were experienced by >10% of respondents, with poor balance being the most commonly reported (84.2%). Non-conventional symptoms accounted for 39.7% of symptomatic burden. 55.4% of the symptoms were reported as an initial symptom, with neck pain the most common (13.5%). Non-conventional symptoms accounted for 11.1% of initial symptoms. 79.5% of the respondents were diagnosed late (>6 months). Heavy legs was the only initial symptom associated with early diagnosis.
conclusionsA comprehensive description of the self-reported effects of DCM has been established, including the prevalence of symptoms at disease presentation. The experience of DCM is broader than suggested by conventional descriptions and further exploration of non-conventional symptoms may support earlier diagnosis.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.