Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a clinical condition of upper motor neuron lesion signs, that is confirmed with advanced imaging demonstrating compression of the spinal cord in the cervical spine.1 Common symptoms of DCM include loss of upper and lower limb strength and coordination, gait dysfunction, and bladder and bowel dysfunction.2 The difference between DCM and other sports-related spinal cord injuries is that DCM results from spinal cord compression due to gradual degenerative changes, making detection more difficult. DCM is a leading cause of spinal cord injury2 and can result in catastrophic symptoms and lifelong disability if left untreated.2 While the mean prevalence of DCM is low in the general population at around 2.22% (95% CI 0.44% to 2.68%), specific populations are at greater risk, such as older adults (>79 years of age) who have a mean prevalence of 4.16% (95% CI 0.82% to 5.03%).3 People from Asia-Pacific and African regions are also reported to have an increased prevalence of DCM and/or cervical stenosis.4 A recent review of the risk factors for the development of DCM reported that long-term participation in contact sports may be associated with increased rates of early spinal degeneration as well as spinal cord injury secondary to cervical spinal stenosis.5 While the exact mechanism remains unclear, it is possible that the combination of repeated mechanical loading and increased prevalence of cervical injuries in contact sport athletes is a cause of early spinal degeneration. In particular, premature cervical spondylosis can lead to DCM in some contact sport athletes.5 This commentary explores the potential benefits of screening contact sport athletes for DCM to facilitate early diagnosis and intervention. Unlike other spinal cord injuries, DCM does not require a traumatic event and can have an insidious onset, making diagnosis and detection …

中文翻译：

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我们应该对退役的接触性运动运动员进行筛查，以发现退行性脊髓型颈椎病的早期迹象吗？


退行性脊髓型颈椎病 （DCM） 是一种上运动神经元病变体征的临床病症，通过先进的影像学检查证实颈椎脊髓受压。DCM 的常见症状包括上肢和下肢力量和协调能力丧失、步态功能障碍以及膀胱和肠道功能障碍。DCM 与其他运动相关脊髓损伤的区别在于，DCM 是由于逐渐退行性导致脊髓压迫引起的更改，使检测更加困难。DCM 是脊髓损伤的主要原因2，如果不及时治疗，可导致灾难性症状和终身残疾。虽然 DCM 在一般人群中的平均患病率较低，约为 2.22%（95% CI [0.44%， 2.68%]），但特定人群面临的风险更大，例如老年人（>79 岁）的平均患病率为 4.16%（95% CI [0.82%， 5.03%]）。来自亚太和非洲地区的人群据报道，DCM 和/或颈椎狭窄的患病率增加.4 最近对 DCM 发展风险因素的回顾报告称，长期参与接触性运动可能与早期脊柱退化以及继发于颈椎管狭窄的脊髓损伤的发生率增加有关.5 虽然确切的机制尚不清楚， 重复的机械负荷和接触性运动运动员颈部损伤患病率的增加可能是早期脊柱退化的一个原因。特别是，早产颈椎病可导致一些接触性运动运动员发生 DCM.5 本评论探讨了筛查接触性运动运动员 DCM 以促进早期诊断和干预的潜在益处。与其他脊髓损伤不同，DCM 不需要创伤性事件，并且可能具有隐匿的起病，因此诊断和检测 ...