Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is the most common non-traumatic spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D) affecting up to 2% adults worldwide. DCM has various phenotypes of clinical presentation and natural history, even though most individuals with DCM typically develop motor, sensory and autonomic impairments and disability secondary to cervical cord dysfunction caused by degenerative, arthritic, and/or congenital processes. DCM is a relatively common SCI/D where misdiagnosis and missing diagnosis are not infrequent, causing delayed diagnosis with a potentially adverse impact on the patient’s outcomes. This presentation will review the literature on the epidemiology, diagnosis and management of DCM. In addition, the main outcomes of the RECODE-DCM project (Research objectives and Common Data Elements Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy funded by the AO Spine) will be synthetized and discussed. Finally, a brief description of the upcoming RESCUE for DCM clinic (Rapid Evaluation Specialized Clinic Utilizing Electrophysiology for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy) will be provided.

Dr. Julio Furlan is a staff neurologist and a Clinician Investigator in the Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Program at the Lyndhurst Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network; consultant neurologist at Altum Health, University Health Network; a Senior Scientist at KITE Research Institute, University Health Network; and an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Toronto. Dr. Furlan´s research has been focused on: (a) outcome measures (including clinical assessments, neuroimaging analysis, and neurophysiological assessments) and predictors of outcomes (including sex, age, race, and secondary health conditions after injury) for individuals living with spinal cord injury or degenerative cervical myelopathy; and (b) neuromodulation therapies for management of individuals living with spinal cord injury or degenerative cervical myelopathy.