Prospective RCT of 81 patients with long-lasting cervical radiculopathy (>3 months, confirmed by MRI or CT-myelography) randomized to anterior cervical surgery, physiotherapy, or cervical collar. Measures pain (VAS), objective upper limb muscle strength (hand-held dynamometer), and sensory loss at baseline, 4 months, and 16 months to determine whether treatment modality affects neurological recovery.
When counseling patients with cervical radiculopathy lasting more than 3 months about surgery vs. Conservative care, use this data: surgery gets patients better faster (less pain and sensory deficit at 4 months), but by 16 months outcomes equalize — making patient preference, symptom severity, and trajectory reasonable guides rather than urgency alone.
Objective dynamometry reveals deficits missed clinically in nearly three-quarters of patients, so incorporate quantitative strength testing when tracking treatment response.
Prospective RCT of 81 patients with long-lasting cervical radiculopathy (>3 months, confirmed by MRI or CT-myelography) randomized to anterior cervical surgery, physiotherapy, or cervical collar. Measures pain (VAS), objective upper limb muscle strength (hand-held dynamometer), and sensory loss at baseline, 4 months, and 16 months to determine whether treatment modality affects neurological recovery.
When counseling patients with cervical radiculopathy lasting more than 3 months about surgery vs. Conservative care, use this data: surgery gets patients better faster (less pain and sensory deficit at 4 months), but by 16 months outcomes equalize — making patient preference, symptom severity, and trajectory reasonable guides rather than urgency alone.
Objective dynamometry reveals deficits missed clinically in nearly three-quarters of patients, so incorporate quantitative strength testing when tracking treatment response.