These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Herniated cervical intervertebral discs with radiculopathy: an outcome study of conservatively or surgically treated patients.
    Author: Heckmann JG, Lang CJ, Zöbelein I, Laumer R, Druschky A, Neundörfer B.
    Journal: J Spinal Disord; 1999 Oct; 12(5):396-401. PubMed ID: 10549703.
    Abstract:
    To study the functional outcomes of patients with cervical herniated intervertebral discs with radiculopathy but without signs of cervical myelopathy using a retrospective cohort study design. The patients were retrospectively identified by chart reviews. Inclusion criteria were (a) cervical radiculopathy with defined neurological disturbances (sensory disorder, reflex abnormalities, and motor weakness); (b) a spinal computed tomograph scan or magnetic resonance image demonstrating neuroradiologic abnormalities (soft or hard disc); and (c) completion of conservative physical and pharmacological treatment. Of 119 consecutive patients who were treated at the Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, between January 1, 1985, and December 31, 1995, 60 patients met the inclusion criteria and were prospectively assessed, with an average follow-up time of 5.5 years. The patients were interviewed with regard to their daily activities, ability to work, and the surgical treatment they had undergone. A complete neurological examination also was performed. In 88.3%, the onset of disease was acute and in 11.7% subacute or chronic. The most common signs and symptoms were brachialgia (98.3%), neck pain (93.3%), sensory disorders (88.3%), reflex abnormalities (61.7%), and motor weakness (51.7%). The neuroimaging procedures demonstrated a disc prolapse (soft disc) in approximately 90% and spondylotic osteophytes (hard disc) in approximately 10%. During an average follow-up time of 5.5 years (range, 4.6 months-10.6 years) 39 (65%) patients had been treated using only conservative methods (COG = conservatively treated group), and 21 (35%) patients had undergone surgery (ventral discectomy) (SUG = surgically treated group). Brachialgia was completely or essentially improved in 100% of the COG and 95.1% of the SUG. Sensory disorders remitted completely or markedly in 97% of the COG and 75% of the SUG. The reflex abnormalities normalized or improved in 59.2% of the COG and in 53.3% of the SUG. Motor weakness improved in 94.1% of the COG and in 50% of the SUG. Neck pain was difficult to treat. It improved in only 36.1% of the COG and in 20% of the SUG. Occupational capacity was lost in 10% of the COG and in 38.9% of the SUG. In a self-rating scale, 89.7% of patients in the COG did not feel disabled in their everyday activities, compared with 66.7% of the patients in the SUG. Patients with a herniated cervical intervertebral disc with radiculopathy can be treated conservatively with good results, although a residual intermittent neck pain syndrome often persists. The patients in the SUG, who initially showed more severe and long-lasting neurological disturbances, were improved at the time of examination, although with more marked residual disorders. Surgery is indicated only when appropriate conservative treatment for a reasonable time has failed.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]