Comparison of Surgical Outcomes for Cervical Radiculopathy by Nerve Root Level

Overview

Journal Sci Rep

Specialty Science

Date 2024 Aug 14

PMID 39143150

Authors

Masahito Oshina

Naohiro Kawamura

Naohiro Tachibana

Akiro Higashikawa

Takashi Ono

Yujiro Takeshita

Rentaro Okazaki

Masayoshi Fukushima

Hiroki Iwai

So Kato

Yoshitaka Matsubayashi

Yuki Taniguchi

Sakae Tanaka

Yasushi Oshima

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Cervical radiculopathy might affect finger movement and dexterity. Postoperative features and clinical outcomes comparing C8 radiculopathies with other radiculopathies are unknown. This prospective multicenter study analyzed 359 patients undergoing single-level surgery for pure cervical radiculopathy (C5, 48; C6, 132; C7, 149; C8, 30). Background data and pre- and 1-year postoperative neck disability index (NDI) and numerical rating scale (NRS) scores were collected. The C5-7 and C8 radiculopathy groups were compared after propensity score matching, with clinical significance determined by minimal clinically important differences (MCID). Postoperative arm numbness was significantly higher than upper back or neck numbness, and arm pain was reduced the most (3.4 points) after surgery among the C5-8 radiculopathy groups. The C8 radiculopathy group had worse postoperative NDI scores (p = 0.026), upper back pain (p = 0.042), change in arm pain NRS scores (p = 0.021), and upper back numbness (p = 0.028) than the C5-7 group. NDI achieved MCID in both groups, but neck and arm pain NRS did not achieve MCID in the C8 group. In conclusion, although arm numbness persisted, arm pain was relieved after surgery for cervical radiculopathy. Patients with C8 radiculopathy exhibited worse NDI and change in NRS arm pain score than those with C5-7 radiculopathy.

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