Citation

Nagata K, Yoshimura N, Muraki S, Hashizume H, Ishimoto Y, Yamada H, Takiguchi N, Nakagawa Y, Oka H, Kawaguchi H, Nakamura K, Akune T, Yoshida M. Spine 2012; 37(22): 1892-1898.

Affiliation

1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan 2Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan 3Department of Clinical Motor System Medicine, 22nd Century Medical and Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan 4Department of Joint Disease Research, 22nd Century Medical and Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan 5Rehabilitation Services Bureau, National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Saitama, Japan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/BRS.0b013e31825a2619

PMID

22565382

Abstract

Study Design. A population-based MRI study of the cervical spine.Objective. This study was undertaken in order to investigate the prevalence of cervical cord compression (CCC) and to examine the association between CCC and physical performance measures in a population-based cohort established in Japan.Summary of Background Data. Population-based cohort studies of the prevalence of CCC, although essential for clarification of the prevalence of slowly progressive disease and specification of the time of incidence of CCC, are not available.Methods. This cross-sectional study was performed as a part of the Research on Osteoarthritis/osteoporosis Against Disability (ROAD) study, a large-scale population-based cohort study in Japan. From 1,011 inhabitants who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations, images of the cervical spine of 977 subjects (324 men, 653 women, mean age 66.4 years) were evaluated. CCC was assessed by sagittal T2-weighted MRI, and was defined as spinal cord compression. The prevalence of CCC and its association with myelopathic signs (hyperreflexia of the patellar tendon, and Hoffmann and Babinski reflexes) were examined. In addition, physical performance measures (grip and release test (GRT), grip strength, 6-m walking time, step length, chair-stand time (CST), and one-leg standing time) were tested.Results. The prevalence of CCC was 24.4%, and was significantly higher in men (29.3% in men, 21.9% in women, P = 0.011). The prevalence of CCC was higher with increasing age in both genders. CCC was not significantly associated with any myelopathic signs, but was significantly associated with GRT, 6-m walking time, step length, and CST.Conclusion. In the present MRI study, the prevalence of CCC was examined. The present results indicate that CCC correlates with physical performance measures from an early stage of the disease before myelopathic signs appear.

Language: en