Association between perioperative patient-reported outcomes and upper extremity functional performance in degenerative cervical myelopathy

Background: Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is caused by chronic compression of the cervical spinal cord. Individuals usually present with a combination of upper extremity dysfunction, imbalance, and bladder dysfunction, which impact overall quality of life. Various questionnaires like mJOA, Nurick, NDI, and DCM-72 have been used for disease stratification. Our study aims to evaluate the clinical correlation between self-reported measures and objective upper extremity assessments and to derive the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for individuals with DCM. Methods: A prospective two-center study of consecutive patients diagnosed with DCM was undertaken. A comprehensive assessment of upper extremity functioning including dexterity, sensation, and muscle strength, as well as self-reported questionnaires were completed preoperatively, and at 6- and 12-months postoperative follow-up. Statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate the progression of self-reported measures postoperatively and to evaluate correlations with upper extremity functional assessments. A p-value