Degenerative Thoracic Myelopathy: A Scoping Review of Epidemiology, Genetics, and Pathogenesis.

Authors

• Tanzil Rujeedawa
• Oliver D Mowforth
• Benjamin M Davies
• Cylene Yang
• Aria Nouri
• Jibin J Francis
• Bizhan Aarabi
• Brian K Kwon
• James Harrop
• Jefferson R Wilson
• Allan R Martin
• Vafa Rahimi-Movaghar
• James D Guest
• Michael G Fehlings
• Mark R Kotter

Publication/Presentation Date

6-1-2024

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: Literature Review.

OBJECTIVE: Myelopathy affecting the thoracic spinal cord can arise secondary to several aetiologies which have similar presentation and management. Consequently, there are many uncertainties in this area, including optimal terminology and definitions. Recent collaborative cervical spinal research has led to the proposal and subsequent community adoption of the name

METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic literature search was performed to identify degenerative thoracic myelopathy literature in Embase and MEDLINE.

RESULTS: Conditions encompassed within DTM include thoracic spondylotic myelopathy, ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, ossification of the ligamentum flavum, calcification of ligaments, hypertrophy of ligaments, degenerative disc disease, thoracic osteoarthritis, intervertebral disc herniation, and posterior osteophytosis. The classic presentation includes girdle pain, gait disturbance, leg weakness, sensory disturbance, and bladder or bowel dysfunction, often with associated back pain. Surgical management is typically favoured with post-surgical outcomes dependent on many factors, including the causative pathology, and presence of additional stenosis.

CONCLUSION: The clinical entities encompassed by the term DTM are interrelated, can manifest concurrently, and present similarly. Building on the consensus adoption of

Volume

14

Issue

5

First Page

1664

Last Page

1677

ISSN

2192-5682

Published In/Presented At

Rujeedawa, T., Mowforth, O. D., Davies, B. M., Yang, C., Nouri, A., Francis, J. J., Aarabi, B., Kwon, B. K., Harrop, J., Wilson, J. R., Martin, A. R., Rahimi-Movaghar, V., Guest, J. D., Fehlings, M. G., & Kotter, M. R. (2024). Degenerative Thoracic Myelopathy: A Scoping Review of Epidemiology, Genetics, and Pathogenesis. Global spine journal, 14(5), 1664–1677. https://doi.org/10.1177/21925682231224768

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

38146739

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article