Comparison between cervical disc arthroplasty and conservative treatment for patients with single level cervical radiculopathy at C5/6. (June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: He, Axiang; Xie, Dong; Qu, Bo; Cai, Xiaomin; Kong, Qin; Yang, Lili; Chen, Xiongsheng; Jia, Lianshun
• Is Part Of: International journal of surgery. Volume 54(2018)Part A
• Page Start: 124
• Page End: 128
• Publication Date: 2018-06
• Subjects: Cervical radiculopathy -- Cervical disc arthroplasty -- Joint degeneration -- Cervical curvature -- Cervical spine range of motion -- Intervertebral gap; Surgery -- Periodicals; Surgical Procedures, Operative -- Periodicals; 617.005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2018.01.033
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-9191

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Cervical radiculopathy is a common disease that affects millions of people. Patients usually are managed by conservative therapy and surgical treatments. Objective: To compare the clinical outcomes between cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) and conservative management for patients with single level cervical radiculopathy at C5/6. Methods: Seventy-two patients with cervical radiculopathy that only affect C5/6 joints were included and thirty-two of them received CDA surgery, and forty patients were treated with conservative management. All the patients were followed up around 4 years. Cervical curvature, cervical range of motion (CROM), horizontal displacement of cervical spine, and intervertebral gap were measured by radiological examination. Results: All the patients have comparable disease severity based on pre-surgical radiological assessments. At the 4-year follow-up examination, patients with CDA surgery had less CROM at C5/6 level, while greater CROM at C4/5 level, than control group. Similarly, the horizontal displacement in CDA group decreased at C5/6 vertebrae, and increased at C4/5 level at the 4-year follow-up examination. The intervertebral gaps of patients in CDA group were larger than control group at one-year and last follow-up examination. Conclusion: CDA surgery stabilized C5/6 vertebrae and increased the CROM and horizontal displacement of upper adjacent C4/5 vertebrae.