Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40011743›Full record

ArticleSpinal cord2025

Clinical signs and symptoms for degenerative cervical myelopathy: a scoping review of case-control studies to facilitate early diagnosis among healthcare professionals with stakeholder engagement.

Suhani Sharma, Alisha Sial, Stone Sima, Ashish Diwan

Abstract readScoping Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Spinal cord, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Observational
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Suhani SharmaSpine Labs, St George and Sutherland Clinical school, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Alisha SialSpine Labs, St George and Sutherland Clinical school, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Stone SimaSpine Labs, St George and Sutherland Clinical school, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Ashish DiwanSpine Labs, St George and Sutherland Clinical school, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia. a.diwan@unsw.edu.au.ORCID 0000-0003-1037-8421

Funding

Baxter International (Baxter International Inc.) unrestricted research grantBaxter International (Baxter International Inc.) unrestricted research grantsNuVasive unrestricted research grantNuVasive unrestricted research grantsUniversity of New South Wales (UNSW) postgraduate research awardUniversity of New South Wales (UNSW) Postgraduate research award
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

STUDY

designScoping Review.

objectiveDegenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a leading cause of chronic spinal cord dysfunction, with diverse clinical presentations that complicate diagnosis. Therefore, it is important to identify the signs and symptoms of DCM that demonstrate high diagnostic accuracy. This review aims to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of signs and symptoms in diagnosing DCM.

methodsArticles up to June 2024 were retrieved from PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases using search terms like "degenerative cervical myelopathy", "cervical spondylotic myelopathy", "sensitivity", "specificity", and related signs and symptoms. Studies were screened based on selection criteria assessing the sensitivity and specificity of signs or symptoms using an appropriate control group.

resultsSixteen studies were included. The most sensitive signs were Tromner sign (93-97%) and hyperreflexia (15-85%). Specific signs included the Babinski sign (93-100%), Tromner sign (79-100%), clonus (96-99%), and inverted supinator sign (78-99%). Neck pain had a sensitivity of 76-94% and specificity of 11-73%. Hand incoordination showed 52% sensitivity and 92% specificity. Altered hand sensation had 76% sensitivity and 90% specificity. Upper extremity weakness had 51-75% sensitivity and 18-95% specificity. Gait imbalance exhibited 56-63% sensitivity and 52-95% specificity.

conclusionSensitive signs like the Tromner sign and hyperreflexia are useful for screening, while specific signs such as Babinski, clonus, and the inverted supinator sign aid in confirmation of DCM. Symptoms like neck pain, hand incoordination, and altered hand sensation should heighten suspicion and guide differential diagnosis. Early and accurate diagnosis using these indicators can improve patient outcomes and reduce diagnostic delays.

Indexed as

Cervical VertebraeHealth PersonnelSpinal Cord DiseasesSpondylosisCase-Control StudiesEarly DiagnosisHumansSensitivity and Specificity

Identifiers

PMID40011743
PMCPMC11906348

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.