This 2007 JAAOS narrative review by Rhee, Yoon, and Riew covers the pathoanatomy, clinical evaluation, imaging, and full treatment spectrum — conservative through surgical — for cervical radiculopathy, answering when to operate and which approach to choose.
For most cervical radiculopathy patients without severe or progressive neurologic deficit, start with conservative management — the majority improve spontaneously and no nonsurgical modality has been proved to do more than treat symptoms.
When surgery is needed, anterior and posterior approaches offer equivalent arm-pain relief; choose based on pathology location (anterior for disk/osteophyte, posterior for foraminal stenosis amenable to unroofing), prior surgical history, and anatomy rather than expected outcome.
This 2007 JAAOS narrative review by Rhee, Yoon, and Riew covers the pathoanatomy, clinical evaluation, imaging, and full treatment spectrum — conservative through surgical — for cervical radiculopathy, answering when to operate and which approach to choose.
For most cervical radiculopathy patients without severe or progressive neurologic deficit, start with conservative management — the majority improve spontaneously and no nonsurgical modality has been proved to do more than treat symptoms.
When surgery is needed, anterior and posterior approaches offer equivalent arm-pain relief; choose based on pathology location (anterior for disk/osteophyte, posterior for foraminal stenosis amenable to unroofing), prior surgical history, and anatomy rather than expected outcome.