====== Cervical degenerative disc disease outcome ======

[[Cervical degenerative disc disease]] may progress into compression of the [[spinal cord]], or [[cervical spondylotic myelopathy]] (CSM), which can cause neurologic dysfunction. 

Although recent work has focused on characterizing quantitative [[MRI]] markers that may predict outcome among patients with [[cervical]] degenerative conditions, little is known about their reliability. Measurement and reporting of these [[marker]]s is time-consuming and non-standardized, thereby preventing their routine use in clinical care.

The good and very good reliability observed in measuring [[T2]]-weighted [[spinal cord]] signal change, level of worst compression, AP cord diameter, and [[kyphosis]] support the use of these markers in standardized reporting which could be incorporated into routine clinical use
((Grochmal JK, Lozen AM, Klein AP, Mark LP, Li J, Wang MC. Interobserver
Reliability of MRI Predictors of Outcome in Cervical Spine Degenerative
Conditions. World Neurosurg. 2018 Jun 15. pii: S1878-8750(18)31196-3. doi:
10.1016/j.wneu.2018.05.242. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 29913296.
)).

----

It is often accompanied by [[dizziness]]. It has been shown that the ingrowth of [[Bulbous corpuscle]]s into diseased cervical discs may be related to cervicogenic dizziness.

Patients with CS appear to exhibit cortical thinning and atrophy with worsening neurological and pain symptoms in specific brain regions associated with sensorimotor and pain processing
((Woodworth DC, Holly LT, Mayer EA, Salamon N, Ellingson BM. Alterations in
Cortical Thickness and Subcortical Volume are Associated With Neurological
Symptoms and Neck Pain in Patients With Cervical Spondylosis. Neurosurgery. 2018 
Mar 14. doi: 10.1093/neuros/nyy066. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 29548020.
)).

===Driving===

I appears to be safe to resume driving after discharge from hospital. However, patients scheduled to undergo [[anterior cervical discectomy]] and fusion should be informed about increased reduced driving reaction time (DRT) as compared to healthy individuals ((Lechner R, Thaler M, Krismer M, Haid C, Obernauer J, Obwegeser A. Driving
reaction time before and after anterior cervical fusion for disc herniation: a
preliminary study. Eur Spine J. 2013 Jul;22(7):1517-21. doi:
10.1007/s00586-013-2688-6. Epub 2013 Mar 10. PubMed PMID: 23474545; PubMed
Central PMCID: PMC3698328.
)).

Many patients suffering from radiculopathy or myelopathy from cervical disc disease are limited in their ability to operate an automobile. Following [[anterior cervical spine surgery]], most patients are able to return to comfortable driving at 6 weeks ((Kelly MP, Mitchell MD, Hacker RJ, Riew KD, Sasso RC. Single-level degenerative
cervical disc disease and driving disability: results from a prospective,
randomized trial. Global Spine J. 2013 Dec;3(4):237-42. doi:
10.1055/s-0033-1354250. Epub 2013 Aug 28. PubMed PMID: 24436875; PubMed Central
PMCID: PMC3854580.
)).