Fusion or no Fusion After Decompression of the Spinal Cord in Patients With Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy

Summary

Background:

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is characterized by neck pain, neck stiffness, weakness, paresthesia, sphincter disturbance and balance disorder. The mean age for symptoms is 64 years and more men than women, 2.7:1, are affected. The most common level is C5-C6. DCM is the predominant cause of spinal cord dysfunction in the elderly worldwide. Surgical options include stand-alone laminectomy, laminectomy and fusion and laminoplasty. The preferable surgical approach is though, a matter of controversy. The objective of this study is to compare stand-alone laminectomy to laminectomy and fusion.

Methods/Design:

This is a multicenter randomized, controlled, parallel group non-inferiority trial. A total of 300 adult participants are allocated in a ratio of 1:1. The primary endpoint is reoperation for any reason within 5 years of follow-up. Sample size and power calculations were performed by estimating the reoperation rate after laminectomy to 3.4% and after laminectomy with fusion to 7.9% based on data from the Swedish spine registry (Swespine) on patients with DCM.

Secondary outcomes are the patient derived modified Japanese orthopaedic association (P-mJOA) score, Neck disability index (NDI), European quality of life five dimensions (EQ-5D), Numeric rating scale (NRS) for neck and arm pain, Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), development of kyphosis measured as the cervical sagittal vertical axis (cSVA) and, death. Clinical and radiological follow-up is performed at 3, 12, 24 and 60 months after surgery. The main inclusion criteria is 1-4 levels of DCM in the subaxial spine, C3-C7, with or without deformity. The REDcap will be used for safe data management. Data will be analyzed in the per protocol (PP) population, defined as randomized patients who are still alive without having emigrated or left the study after five years.

Discussion:

This will be the first randomized controlled trial comparing two of the most common surgical treatments for DCM; the posterior muscle-preserving selective laminectomy and posterior laminectomy with instrumented fusion. The results of the MyRanC study will provide surgical treatment recommendations for DCM. This may result in improvements in surgical treatment and clinical practice regarding DCM.

Conditions

• Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Muscle preserving selective laminectomy

Muscle-preserving selective laminectomy differ from traditional laminectomy by the spinous process split that preserves the deep extensor muscles. The bilateral facet joints are not exposed. After the laminectomy is finished the split fragments of the spinous process are sutured together so that the deep extensor muscles are restored.

PROCEDURE

Laminectomy with instrumented fusion

A traditional laminectomy is complemented with lateral mass and/or pedicle screws connected with rods.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Karolinska Institutet

  collaborator OTHER

• Linkoeping University

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Sahlgrenska University Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Uppsala University Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Anna MacDowall, MD, PhD · Uppsala University Hospital

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-02-21

Primary Completion

2030-02-01

Completion

2033-02-01

Countries

• Sweden

Study Locations