Bladder Function Outcomes Following Surgical Decompression for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Across 21 studies of 2,998 patients, bladder problems affect about 58% of people with cervical myelopathy and recover the slowest of any function after surgery — taking roughly 12 months to reach halfway recovery versus only 3 months for arm and leg strength. Fewer than 1 in 3 patients report meaningful bladder improvement, even though surgeons rate two-thirds as improved.
Bladder symptoms in cervical myelopathy are under-recognized, recover poorly, and demand earlier surgery and dedicated patient-reported monitoring rather than reliance on standard myelopathy scores.
Shown by Manvir Bhangu
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