Neurospine.  2020 Mar;17(1):164-171. 10.14245/ns.1938010.005.

Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A 7-Letter Coding System That Supports Decision-Making for the Surgical Approach

• Papavero L
• Schmeiser
• Kothe R
• Boszczyk B
• Heese O
• Kawaguchi
• MacDowall
• Olerud C
• Paidakakos N
• Panagiotou A
• Pitzen T
• Richter M
• Riew KD
• Stevenson
• Tan L
• Ueshima R
• Yau Y
• Mayer M

• KMID: 2501547
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14245/ns.1938010.005

Abstract

Objective
To validate with a prospective study a decision-supporting coding system for the surgical approach for multilevel degenerative cervical myelopathy.
Methods
Ten cases were presented on an internet platform, including clinical and imaging data. A single-approach (G1), a choice between 2 (G2), or 3 approaches (G3) were options. Senior and junior spine surgeons analyzed 7 parameters: location and extension of the compression of the spinal cord, C-spine alignment and instability, general morbidity and bone diseases, and K-line and multilevel corpectomy. For each parameter, an anterior, posterior, or combined approach was suggested. The most frequent letter or the last letter (if C) of the resulting 7-letter code (7LC) suggested the surgical approach. Each surgeon performed 2 reads per case within 8 weeks.
Results
G1: Interrater reliability between junior surgeons improved from the first read (κ = 0.40) to the second (κ = 0.76, p < 0.001) but did not change between senior surgeons (κ = 0.85). The intrarater reliability was similar for junior (κ = 0.78) and senior (κ = 0.71) surgeons. G2: Junior/senior surgeons agreed completely (58%/62%), partially (24%/23%), or did not agree (18%/15%) with the 7LC choice. G3: junior/senior surgeons agreed completely (50%/50%) or partially (50%/50%) with the 7LC choice.
Conclusion
The 7LC showed good overall reliability. Junior surgeons went through a learning curve and converged to senior surgeons in the second read. The 7LC helps less experienced surgeons to analyze, in a structured manner, the relevant clinical and imaging parameters influencing the choice of the surgical approach, rather than simply pointing out the only correct one.

Keyword

Degenerative cervical myelopathy; Anterior approach; Posterior approach; Combined approach; Multicenter study