Overview
The objective of this study is to generate preliminary data to establish the feasibility and effectiveness of transauricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) to improve post-operative outcomes of moderate to severe degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM)
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- 18 years of age or older
- Moderate or severe degenerative cervical myelopathy according to the mJOA
- Decompression surgery planned
Exclusion Criteria:
- • Pregnancy
- Electrically active implants (e.g. pacemaker)
- Known diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, concomitant thoracic and/or lumbar stenosis, spine tumor, HIV-related myelopathy
- Ongoing cancer therapy
- Ongoing use of immunomodulating or suppressive medication
- Sustained bradycardia with a heartrate \<50 beats per minute for \> 5 minutes following admission.
- Prior cervical spine surgery
