Flipping the mJOA: Clinical utility of the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association score as a tool for detecting degenerative cervical myelopathy.

Introduction: People with Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy (DCM) often experience diagnostic delay. This could lead to poorer outcomes, including disability.

Research Question: Does the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale (mJOA) have clinical utility as an early detection tool for possible DCM?

Materials And Methods: This is a prospective study of consecutive adult patients, referred to a National Neurosurgical Centre with a neck problem.