AO Spine RECODE-DCM
REsearch Objectives and COmmon Data Elements for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy
The AO Spine RECODE-DCM study has successfully achieved its goals to define the top research priorities for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy (DCM), agree on a name for the condition, and create a research toolkit with a minimum data set for researchers to use.
With the landmark study, AO Spine brought all stakeholders around the same table and took a leap towards accelerating knowledge discovery to improve patient outcomes. It's critical that scientist and funders now step in.
What is Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy (DCM)?
DCM is a condition in which degenerative arthritic changes in the neck (cervical) cause compression and impairment of the spinal cord (myelopathy).
- In DCM, a spinal cord injury (SCI) happens in slow motion.
- Whereas acute traumatic SCI is well recognized, public awareness of DCM is low.
- DCM affects 2% of adults globally. As our population ages, incidence is rising.
- DCM causes pain, disability and poor quality of life.
- If diagnosed early, surgery can be beneficial, but recovery is often incomplete.
- DCM has been known by other names including cervical stenosis, cervical spondylosis, and spondylotic myelopathy.
- Progress is urgently required.
AO Spine RECODE-DCM Community
Selected leaders and experts are championing research priorities as part of the AO Spine RECODE-DCM Knowledge Translation and Implementation initiative. They raise awareness and understanding of DCM among clinicians, other health professionals, and the public, promote commitment from leading authorities worldwide and focus research on specific research priorities.
Find out how you can be a part of this global research initiative to make a difference to research and to people living with DCM.
Research toolkit
The AO Spine RECODE-DCM group created a ‘Research Toolkit’ to equip scientists with the tools to make their studies robust, comparable, and focused on the outcomes that matter most for people with DCM.
There are three components:
1. Top 10 Research Priorities, identified as the most important research questions.
2. A minimum dataset, to standardize outcome measures, making future studies robust and comparable.
3. An index term and definition for DCM, to enable a common language across the globe.
Research Priorities
Minimum Dataset
Naming DCM
Promo Study outcomes
AO Spine RECODE-DCM study outcomes
A summary of all supporting publications presenting data which informed the process can be found on our publications page.
Citing the AO Spine RECODE-DCM Research Priorities
Citing the AO Spine RECODE-DCM Research Priorities
To address the priorities, researchers require awareness of them. Please help to raise awareness among researchers by ensuring that all new DCM studies cite the research priorities correctly. This will help the worldwide DCM community to build on the solid foundation established by AO Spine RECODE-DCM.
Our team
Mark Kotter
Principal Investigator, Management Committee Member. NIHR Clinical Scientist & Honorary Consultant in Neurosurgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.Benjamin Davies
Co-principal Investigator, Management Committee Member. NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow in Neurosurgery, Academic Neurosurgery Unit & Anne McLaren Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.Michael Fehlings
Steering Committee Member. Past Chairperson, AO Spine Spinal Cord Injury Knowledge Forum. University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.Brian Kwon
Steering Committee Member. Chairperson, AO Spine Spinal Cord Injury Knowledge Forum. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.Angus McNair
Steering Committee Member. NIHR Clinician Scientist, Center for Surgical Research, Bristol Medical School: Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.Aria Nouri
Global Partner. Neurosurgery Resident, Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland & Visiting Scholar, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, USA.Armin Curt
Steering Committee Member. Professor for Paraplegiology and Medical Director, Balgrist University Hospital, Spinal Cord Injury Center, University of Zurich, Switzerland.Bizhan Aarabi
Steering Committee Member. AO Spine Spinal Cord Injury Knowledge Forum Steering Committee Member. University of Maryland. Baltimore, USA.Carl Zipser
Steering Committee Member. Neurologist, Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.Carla Salzman
Steering Committee Member. DCM Patient Representative, USA.
Myelopathy org
Myelopathy.org is a non-profit organisation founded to raise awareness of degenerative cervical myelopathy and support patients, carers and professionals who live and deal with it.