Surgical Management of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy Among African Patients: Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes for a Consecutive Series Treated in West Africa | ||||
| The Egyptian Orthopaedic Journal | ||||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 05 June 2025 | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/eoj.2025.378699.1035 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Authors | ||||
Ali Maziad  1; Owoicho Adogwa2; Harry Akoto3; Arthur Sackeyfio3; Oheneba Boachie-Adjei3
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| 1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt | ||||
| 2Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati, OH, USA | ||||
| 3The Foundation of Orthopedics and Complex Spine (FOCOS), Accra, Ghana. | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Summary: We investigated the clinical and radiographic outcomes of 60 consecutive patients who underwent surgical treatment for degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) in West Africa. Findings revealed significant improvement in functional and quality of life scores as shown by changes in Neck Disability Index and Nurick scale. Background: DCM represents a common cause of spinal cord dysfunction. Decompressive surgery is the preferred treatment for DCM to improve neurological and functional outcomes. The outcomes of surgical treatment for DCM have never been evaluated in West African patients. Objective: To evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of surgical decompression for DCM in West Africa. Study Design: Retrospective Case series Methods: Clinical, radiographic and operative reports of 60 patients surgically treated between 2013-2018 for DCM were reviewed. Preoperative and postoperative neurologic status and functional impairment was evaluated using the Neck Disability Index and Nurick Scale. Preoperative and postoperative outcomes were compared using a mixed model analysis. Results: 60 patients (67% male) with mean age of 57.49±13.92 years. BMI was 27.41±4.91 Kg/M2. Preoperatively, 18.90% were wheelchair bound. Postoperatively, mean NDI score improved from 47.38 to 26.42 (p=0.005); the Nurick grade improved from 3.30 to 1.85 (p=0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in the functional improvement by anterior and posterior procedures (NDI: p=0.82; Nurick grade: p=0.95). Mean follow-up was 45.90±35.93 months. 3.33% (2/60) developed Neurological complications. Conclusion: This study suggests that in West Africa, surgical decompression for patients with symptomatic DCM is safe and results in clinically significant improvement in functional status. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Cervical Myelopathy; Outcomes; Nurick Grade; Cervical stenosis | ||||
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