TMS for DCM

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  A Single Centre Cross Sectional Study Investigating the Accuracy of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the Diagnosis of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy

• IRAS ID

  346807

• Contact name

  Diane Boothman

• Contact email

  dianegaston@hotmail.co.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Somerset Foundation Trust

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  n/a, n/a

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 6 months, 30 days

• Research summary

  The aim of the research is to investigate whether transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS) can diagnose degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) accurately and whether it can be used as an adjunct to support surgical decision making in patients who are difficult to diagnose.
  A group of patients presenting to the spinal surgery team at Somerset Foundation Trust over a 24-month period with suspected cervical myelopathy will be recruited for the study. The main study group will be comprised of patients with a definite diagnosis given by the surgical team but in addition the patients with an indefinite diagnosis will also be recruited and separated in to two further groups according to MRI and clinical findings.
  Reference values will be collected for the study within the same department. Using the clinical diagnosis as the gold standard(including MRI), the accuracy of TMS will be calculated and TMS results will also be correlated against the clinical assessment scores.
  If TMS is effective in diagnosing DCM by accurately identifying spinal cord dysfunction, it could assist surgical teams in diagnosing patients with equivocal signs and symptoms and even determine which patients may benefit from surgery and which will not. This precise treatment approach may even be integrated in to the diagnostic pathway, strengthening diagnostic decisions and informing treatment plans which could reduce the number of patients who deteriorate and even reduce the number of unnecessary surgeries.

• REC name

  North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  25/NW/0119

• Date of REC Opinion

  15 Apr 2025

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion