Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy

Dr. Fehlings is the Vice Chair Research for the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto and Head of the Spinal Program at Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network. Dr. Fehlings is a Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Toronto, holds the Gerry and Tootsie Halbert Chair in Neural Repair and Regeneration, is a Scientist at the McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine and a McLaughlin Scholar in Molecular Medicine. In the fall of 2008, Dr. Fehlings was appointed the inaugural Director of the University of Toronto Neuroscience Program (which he held until June 2012) and is currently Co-Director of the University of Toronto Spine Program. Dr. Fehlings combines an active clinical practice in complex spinal surgery with a translationally oriented research program focused on discovering novel treatments to improve functional outcomes following spinal cord injury (SCI).

1. Overview of DCM
2. Anatomy and Physiology of Cervical Spine and Cervical Spinal Cord
3. Epidemiology, Genetics and Classification of DCM
4. Pathophysiology of DCM
5. Clinical Assessment Tools
6. Imaging of DCM
7. Electrophysiological Assessment of DCM
8. Assessment of Cervical Alignment and Deformity
9. Patient Trajectory and Natural History
10. Role of the Primary Care Practitioner in the Assessment and Management of DCM
11. RECODE Priorities
12. Overview of Management Options for DCM (reference current guidelines)
13. Prehabilitation and Rehabilitation for DCM
14. Decision Making in Surgical Management of DCM
15. Anterior Surgical Approaches to Treat DCM
16. Posterior Surgical Approaches to Treat DCM – Cervical Laminectomy
17. Posterior Surgical Approaches to Treat DCM – Cervical Laminoplasty
18. Serological, Genetic and Imaging Biomarkers
19. Nonoperative Management of DCM (including potential neuroprotective strategies)
20. Neuroregenerative Strategies for DCM
21. State of the Art and Future Directions of DCM