RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Patients With Cervical Spine Degeneration Reveal Frequent Cervicolumbar Tandem Spinal Stenosis in Mexico
JF International Journal of Spine Surgery
JO Int J Spine Surg
FD International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery
SP 670
OP 677
DO 10.14444/8520
VO 17
IS 5
A1 Guadarrama-Ortiz, Parménides
A1 Ruíz-Rivero, César Osvaldo
A1 Capi-Casillas, Deyanira
A1 Román-Villagómez, Alondra
A1 Prieto-Rivera, Ángel Daniel
A1 Choreño-Parra, José Alberto
YR 2023
UL https://www.ijssurgery.com/content/17/5/670.abstract
AB Background Limited literature exists regarding the differences in demographics, causes, comorbidities, presentation, and structural changes associated with cervical spine degeneration in patients from distinct geographic regions. The authors aimed to evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with cervical spine degeneration admitted to a single center in Mexico.Methods This study enrolled patients with degenerative disease of the cervical spine. Clinical data were retrieved from medical records and retrospectively characterized.Results A total of 50 patients with cervical spine degeneration were included in the analysis. Of these, 26% were men with a median age of 54 years. Hypertension, depression, anxiety, obesity, and alcohol consumption were presented in about a quarter of the participants. In addition, we observed hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia in 72% and 46% of participants, respectively. The median duration of symptoms was 11 months, including radicular arm/neck pain (80%), tingling (80%), reduced muscle strength (48%), and gait disturbances (48%). Forty percent of patients had 2 cervical segments radiologically involved, mainly at C5–C6, with changes such as disc herniation (88%), foraminal stenosis with nerve root compression (67%), reduced spinal canal–to-vertebral body ratio (38%), and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy (24%). Also, 22% of patients showed degenerative cervical myelopathy. Strikingly, 48% of enrolled individuals showed cervicolumbar tandem spinal stenosis, mainly in L4–L5 and L5–S1, who were generally older, had a longer duration of symptoms, and had a higher comorbidity burden, including hyperglycemia, hypertension, and depression.Conclusions The demographic and clinical characteristics of degenerative cervical spine disease in Mexico differ with respect to other geographical regions by a younger age of diagnosis, a high frequency of cardiovascular, metabolic, and mental health comorbidities, and an increased prevalence of concomitant lumbar spinal stenosis.Clinical Relevance Our findings reveal a considerably high burden of cervicolumbar tandem spinal stenosis as a distinctive feature of Mexican patients with cervical spine degeneration.Level of Evidence 1.