Our community
The AO Spine RECODE-DCM community connects surgeons, healthcare professionals, researchers, and people with lived experience of DCM, from all regions of the globe, to accelerate progress in DCM. The equitable input from all stakeholders is crucial to ensure that the outcomes of the initiative are relevant to all who live or work with the disease.
AO Spine RECODE-DCM welcomes new members to the community. Please join us! Click here to receive updates and our quarterly newsletter.
Lack of interaction between research groups can be a barrier to progress. To find answers for a global problem, we must increase global synergy. Our diverse, inclusive community aims to break down geographical barriers and build synergy between research groups.
In 2020, the AO Spine Knowledge Forum Spinal Cord Injury called for Ambassadors to join the AO Spine RECODE-DCM Community, with the goals of enhancing synergy between research groups, focusing knowledge discovery, and translating knowledge to improve patient outcomes They have formed international special-interest ‘incubators’ (groups of clinicians, other healthcare professionals, and individuals with lived experience) focused on: Natural History, Diagnostic Criteria, and Peri-Operative Rehabilitation. These groups are led by Knowledge Forum representatives.
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Diagnostic criteria - Incubator
The formation of a specific set of Diagnostic criteria will enable earlier diagnosis but also foster improved diagnosis accuracy, timely therapy, reduce heterogeneity in research, establish standards for medical curriculum, facilitate inter-disciplinary communication and ultimately raise awareness for degenerative cervical myelopathy.
Ongoing activities:
• Scoping out methodology for formation of diagnostic criteria
• Scoping raw elements for DCM; patient survey, literature review, database analysis
• A multi-stakeholders Delphi procedure to establish diagnostic criteria based on signs, symptoms and imaging factors
Diagnostic criteria chair:
Fehlings, Michael
Neurosurgeon, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CanadaLeadership committee:
Tetreault, Lindsay
Scientist & Neurology resident, New York University, Langone Health, Graduate Medical Education, Department of Neurology, New York, NY, United StatesRodrigues-Pinto, Ricardo
Orthopaedic surgeon, Spinal Unit (UVM), Department of Orthopaedics, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto - Hospital de Santo António, Porto, PortugalWilson, Jamie RF.
Neurosurgeon, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Omaha, Nebraska, United StatesKimmatkar, Nitin
Orthopaedic surgeon, Government Medical College Nagpur, Nagpurq, IndiaMilligan, Jamie
Family Physician, McMaster University Department of Family Medicine, Hamilton, ON, CanadaAO Spine RECODE-DCM Co-PCI:
Davies, Benjamin
Scientist & Neurosurgery resident, Myelopathy.org, International Charity for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cambridge, United KingdomTeam members:
Yurac, Ratko
Orthopaedic surgeon, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, ChileCameron, Lucy
MSK Physiotherapist, University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Addenbrooke's or Rosie Hospital, Cambridge, United KingdomZipser, Carl
Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, SwitzerlandAbdel-Wanis, Mohamed
Orthopaedic surgeon, Sohag Faculty of Medicine, Sohag Governorate, EgyptSarewitz, Ellen
Person with lived experience and communication specialist. Myelopathy.org, International Charity for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy, United KingdomBruno Lourenço Costa
Orthopaedic surgeon, Hospital de São Teotónio (Centro Hospitalar Tondela - Viseu, Epe), Coimbra, PortugalWiddop, Shirley
Person with lived experience, former nurse. Myelopathy.org, International Charity for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy, United KingdomBetz, Michael
Orthopaedic surgeon, University Spine Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, SwitzerlandObadaseraye, Oke
Senior Registrar- Orthopaedics and trauma, Nigeria, AfricaPedro, Karlo
Neurosurgeon, University of the Philippines, Philippine General Hospital, Manila PhilippinesWood, Lianne
Spinal Advanced Practice Physiotherapist, Nottingham University Hospital, Nottingham, United KingdomMargetis, Konstantinos
Neurosurgeon, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United StatesAllan Martin
Neurosurgeon, University of California, Davis, United StatesChad E Cook
Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists, Duke University, United StatesLiz Roberts
Project Manager, myelopathy.org, United Kingdom -
Natural history - Incubator
Ongoing activities:
• Guidelines on asymptomatic management of spinal cord compression
• Scoping design and feasibility for a prospective and international registryNatural History criteria chair:
James Harrop
Department of Neurological Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United StatesLeadership committee:
Ratko Yurac
Orthopaedic surgeon, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, ChileJoost Dejaegher
Neurosurgeon, Faculty of Medicine KU Leuven, Leuven, BelgiumAria Nouri
Scientist & Neurosurgery resident, Division of Neurosurgery, Geneva University Hospitals, University of Geneva, SwitzerlandEnrico Tessitore
Neurosurgeon, Division of Neurosurgery, Geneva University Hospitals, University of Geneva, SwitzerlandVishal Kumar
Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dept. of Orthopaedics PGIMER, Chandigarh, IndiaAO Spine RECODE-DCM Co-PCI:
Benjamin Davies
Scientist & Neurosurgery resident, Myelopathy.org, International Charity for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cambridge, United KingdomTeam Members:
Rory Murphy
Neurosurgeon, Barrow Neurological Institute, Arizona, United StatesGuy Wynne-Jones
Neurosurgeon, The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle, United KingdomJose Joefrey F. Arbatin
Orthopedic surgeon, Spine and Orthopedics, Chong Hua Hospital, Cebu, PhilippinesIwan Sadler
Person with lived experience and Graphic Designer. Myelopathy.org, International Charity for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy, United KingdomJuan José Zamorano
Orthopaedic surgeron, Clinica Alemania de Santiago, Santiago, ChileSo Kato
Consultant Spinal surgeon, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, JapanManabu Ito
Orthopaedic surgeon, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National Hospital Organization Hokkaido Medical Center, Sapporo, JapanOliver Mowforth
Scientist & Neurosurgery resident, Myelopathy.org, International Charity for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy, United KingdomManjul Tripathi
Neurosurgeon, Dept. of Neurosurgery, PGIMER, Chandigarh, IndiaMolliqaj Granit
Neurosurgeon, Division of Neurosurgery, Geneva University Hospitals, University of Geneva, SwitzerlandJefferson Wilson
Neurosurgeon, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CanadaDavid B Anderson
Physiotherapy/Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney School of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaRonie Romelean
Jayapalan Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaNicolas Dea
Spine surgeon, Combined Neurosurgical and Orthopedic Spine Program. Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, CanadaOlesja Hazenbiller
Senior Research Project Manager, Network Clinical Research, AO Foundation, Davos, Switzerland -
Perioperative rehabilitation - Incubator
Ongoing activities:
• Enviroscan of current practice, access and opportunities
Chair, AO Spine RECODE-DCM PCI
Mark Kotter
Neurosurgeon, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cambridge. Myelopathy.org, International Charity for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy, United KingdomLeadership committee:
Sukhvinder Kalsi-Ryan
Affiliate Scientist, KITE|Toronto Rehab|University Health Network. Clinic/Scientific Lead - Rocket Family Upper Extremity Clinic-Lyndhurst Site, CanadaTimothy Boerger
Person with lived experience & Scientist. Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, United StatesFahim Anwar
Consultant Rehabilitation Medicine, Cambridge University Hospital, United KingdomAref-Ali Gharooni
Scientist & Neurosurgery resident, Myelopathy.org, International Charity for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy, United KingdomVishal Kumar
Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dept. of Orthopaedics, PGIMER, Chandigarh, IndiaHarry Mee
Academic Rehabilitation Registrar at Addenbrookes hospital, United KingdomAO Spine RECODE-DCM Co-PCI:
Benjamin Davies
Scientist & Neurosurgery resident, Myelopathy.org, International Charity for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cambridge, United KingdomTeam Members:
Andreas Demetriades
Consultant Neurosurgeon and Spinal Surgeon, Edinburgh, United KingdomPedro Luís Bazán
Spinal Surgeon, Hospital Italiano de La Plata, ArgentinaCaroline Treanor
Physiotherapist in the national neurosurgical service, Ireland - Team MembersRam Hariharan, Consultant in Spinal Injuries at Sheffield Spinal Injuries Centre, United KingdomWunna Aung
Consultant in Spinal Injuries at South Tees Hospital, United KingdomJeetinder Makkar Kaur
Pain Physician, Professor, Department of Anaesthesia, Post graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, IndiaDavid B Anderson
Physiotherapy/Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney School of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaLiz Roberts
Project Manager, myelopathy.org, United Kingdom
Why build a multi-stakeholder community?
When all stakeholders are brought together, they can work most efficiently to give the maximum benefit to those living and working with DCM. Everybody who works or lives with the disease is invited.
How do I get involved?
Click here to subscribe to updates and the AO Spine RECODE-DCM quarterly newsletter.
For all other queries, please contact the AO Spine Knowledge Forum Spinal Cord Injury research project manager, Olesja Hazenbiller at ohazenbiller@aospine.org.