Classification criteria for cervical radiculopathy: an international e-Delphi study

Kwun N Lam; Nicola R Heneghan; Jai Mistry; Adesola O Ojoawo; Anneli Peolsson; Arianne P Verhagen; Brigitte Tampin; Erik Thoomes; Gwendolen Jull; Gwendolyne G M Scholten-Peeters; Helen Slater; Niamh Moloney; Toby Hall; Åsa Dedering; Alison Rushton; Deborah Falla

doi:10.1016/j.msksp.2022.102596

Classification criteria for cervical radiculopathy: an international e-Delphi study

Kwun N Lam, Nicola R Heneghan, Jai Mistry, Adesola O Ojoawo, Anneli Peolsson, Arianne P Verhagen, Brigitte Tampin, Erik Thoomes, Gwendolen Jull, Gwendolyne G M Scholten-Peeters, Helen Slater, Niamh Moloney, Toby Hall, Åsa Dedering, Alison Rushton, Deborah Falla

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Establishing a set of uniform classification criteria (CC) for cervical radiculopathy (CR) is required to aid future recruitment of homogenous populations to clinical trials.

OBJECTIVES: To establish expert informed consensus on CC for CR.

DESIGN: A pre-defined four round e-Delphi study in accordance with the guidance on Conducting and Reporting Delphi Studies.

METHODS: Individuals with a background in physiotherapy who had authored two or more peer-reviewed publications on CR were invited to participate. The initial round asked opinions on CC for CR. Content analysis was performed on round one output and a list of discrete items were generated forming the round two survey. In rounds two to four, participants were asked to rate the level of importance of each item on a six-point Likert scale. Data were analysed descriptively using median, interquartile range and percentage agreement. Items reaching pre-defined consensus criteria were carried forward to the next round. Items remaining after the fourth round constituted expert consensus on CC for CR.

RESULTS: Twelve participants participated with one drop out. The final round identified one inclusion CC and 12 exclusion CC. The inclusion CC that remained achieved 82% agreement and was a cluster criterion consisting of radicular pain with arm pain worse than neck pain; paraesthesia or numbness and/or weakness and/or altered reflex; MRI confirmed nerve root compression compatible with clinical findings.

CONCLUSIONS: The CC identified can be used to inform eligibility criteria for future CR trials although caution should be practiced as consensus on measurement tools requires further investigation.

Original language	English
Article number	102596
Number of pages	12
Journal	Musculoskeletal Science and Practice
Volume	61
Early online date	1 Jun 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msksp.2022.102596
Publication status	Published - Oct 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors

Keywords

Cervical radiculopathy
Classification
Delphi technique

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

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Lam, K. N., Heneghan, N. R., Mistry, J., Ojoawo, A. O., Peolsson, A., Verhagen, A. P., Tampin, B., Thoomes, E., Jull, G., Scholten-Peeters, G. G. M., Slater, H., Moloney, N., Hall, T., Dedering, Å., Rushton, A., & Falla, D. (2022). Classification criteria for cervical radiculopathy: an international e-Delphi study. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 61, Article 102596. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msksp.2022.102596

@article{297fdc974d4743c09c66ae0d832642d2,

title = "Classification criteria for cervical radiculopathy: an international e-Delphi study",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Establishing a set of uniform classification criteria (CC) for cervical radiculopathy (CR) is required to aid future recruitment of homogenous populations to clinical trials.OBJECTIVES: To establish expert informed consensus on CC for CR.DESIGN: A pre-defined four round e-Delphi study in accordance with the guidance on Conducting and Reporting Delphi Studies.METHODS: Individuals with a background in physiotherapy who had authored two or more peer-reviewed publications on CR were invited to participate. The initial round asked opinions on CC for CR. Content analysis was performed on round one output and a list of discrete items were generated forming the round two survey. In rounds two to four, participants were asked to rate the level of importance of each item on a six-point Likert scale. Data were analysed descriptively using median, interquartile range and percentage agreement. Items reaching pre-defined consensus criteria were carried forward to the next round. Items remaining after the fourth round constituted expert consensus on CC for CR.RESULTS: Twelve participants participated with one drop out. The final round identified one inclusion CC and 12 exclusion CC. The inclusion CC that remained achieved 82% agreement and was a cluster criterion consisting of radicular pain with arm pain worse than neck pain; paraesthesia or numbness and/or weakness and/or altered reflex; MRI confirmed nerve root compression compatible with clinical findings.CONCLUSIONS: The CC identified can be used to inform eligibility criteria for future CR trials although caution should be practiced as consensus on measurement tools requires further investigation.",

keywords = "Cervical radiculopathy, Classification, Delphi technique",

author = "Lam, {Kwun N} and Heneghan, {Nicola R} and Jai Mistry and Ojoawo, {Adesola O} and Anneli Peolsson and Verhagen, {Arianne P} and Brigitte Tampin and Erik Thoomes and Gwendolen Jull and Scholten-Peeters, {Gwendolyne G M} and Helen Slater and Niamh Moloney and Toby Hall and {\AA}sa Dedering and Alison Rushton and Deborah Falla",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 The Authors",

year = "2022",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1016/j.msksp.2022.102596",

language = "English",

volume = "61",

journal = "Musculoskeletal Science and Practice",

issn = "2468-7812",

publisher = "Elsevier",

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Lam, KN, Heneghan, NR, Mistry, J, Ojoawo, AO, Peolsson, A, Verhagen, AP, Tampin, B, Thoomes, E, Jull, G, Scholten-Peeters, GGM, Slater, H, Moloney, N, Hall, T, Dedering, Å, Rushton, A & Falla, D 2022, 'Classification criteria for cervical radiculopathy: an international e-Delphi study', Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, vol. 61, 102596. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msksp.2022.102596

TY - JOUR

T1 - Classification criteria for cervical radiculopathy

T2 - an international e-Delphi study

AU - Lam, Kwun N

AU - Heneghan, Nicola R

AU - Mistry, Jai

AU - Ojoawo, Adesola O

AU - Peolsson, Anneli

AU - Verhagen, Arianne P

AU - Tampin, Brigitte

AU - Thoomes, Erik

AU - Jull, Gwendolen

AU - Scholten-Peeters, Gwendolyne G M

AU - Slater, Helen

AU - Moloney, Niamh

AU - Hall, Toby

AU - Dedering, Åsa

AU - Rushton, Alison

AU - Falla, Deborah

PY - 2022/10

Y1 - 2022/10

N2 - BACKGROUND: Establishing a set of uniform classification criteria (CC) for cervical radiculopathy (CR) is required to aid future recruitment of homogenous populations to clinical trials.OBJECTIVES: To establish expert informed consensus on CC for CR.DESIGN: A pre-defined four round e-Delphi study in accordance with the guidance on Conducting and Reporting Delphi Studies.METHODS: Individuals with a background in physiotherapy who had authored two or more peer-reviewed publications on CR were invited to participate. The initial round asked opinions on CC for CR. Content analysis was performed on round one output and a list of discrete items were generated forming the round two survey. In rounds two to four, participants were asked to rate the level of importance of each item on a six-point Likert scale. Data were analysed descriptively using median, interquartile range and percentage agreement. Items reaching pre-defined consensus criteria were carried forward to the next round. Items remaining after the fourth round constituted expert consensus on CC for CR.RESULTS: Twelve participants participated with one drop out. The final round identified one inclusion CC and 12 exclusion CC. The inclusion CC that remained achieved 82% agreement and was a cluster criterion consisting of radicular pain with arm pain worse than neck pain; paraesthesia or numbness and/or weakness and/or altered reflex; MRI confirmed nerve root compression compatible with clinical findings.CONCLUSIONS: The CC identified can be used to inform eligibility criteria for future CR trials although caution should be practiced as consensus on measurement tools requires further investigation.

AB - BACKGROUND: Establishing a set of uniform classification criteria (CC) for cervical radiculopathy (CR) is required to aid future recruitment of homogenous populations to clinical trials.OBJECTIVES: To establish expert informed consensus on CC for CR.DESIGN: A pre-defined four round e-Delphi study in accordance with the guidance on Conducting and Reporting Delphi Studies.METHODS: Individuals with a background in physiotherapy who had authored two or more peer-reviewed publications on CR were invited to participate. The initial round asked opinions on CC for CR. Content analysis was performed on round one output and a list of discrete items were generated forming the round two survey. In rounds two to four, participants were asked to rate the level of importance of each item on a six-point Likert scale. Data were analysed descriptively using median, interquartile range and percentage agreement. Items reaching pre-defined consensus criteria were carried forward to the next round. Items remaining after the fourth round constituted expert consensus on CC for CR.RESULTS: Twelve participants participated with one drop out. The final round identified one inclusion CC and 12 exclusion CC. The inclusion CC that remained achieved 82% agreement and was a cluster criterion consisting of radicular pain with arm pain worse than neck pain; paraesthesia or numbness and/or weakness and/or altered reflex; MRI confirmed nerve root compression compatible with clinical findings.CONCLUSIONS: The CC identified can be used to inform eligibility criteria for future CR trials although caution should be practiced as consensus on measurement tools requires further investigation.

KW - Cervical radiculopathy

KW - Classification

KW - Delphi technique

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U2 - 10.1016/j.msksp.2022.102596

DO - 10.1016/j.msksp.2022.102596

M3 - Article

C2 - 35671539

SN - 2468-7812

VL - 61

JO - Musculoskeletal Science and Practice

JF - Musculoskeletal Science and Practice

M1 - 102596

ER -

Classification criteria for cervical radiculopathy: an international e-Delphi study

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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