Abstract
Objective
The purpose of this study was to investigate outcomes of patients with cervical radiculopathy
from cervical disk herniation (CDH) who are treated with spinal manipulative therapy.
Methods
Adult Swiss patients with neck pain and dermatomal arm pain; sensory, motor, or reflex
changes corresponding to the involved nerve root; and at least 1 positive orthopaedic
test for cervical radiculopathy were included. Magnetic resonance imaging–confirmed
CDH linked with symptoms was required.
Baseline data included 2 pain numeric rating scales (NRSs), for neck and arm, and
the Neck Disability Index (NDI). At 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months after initial consultation,
patients were contacted by telephone, and the NDI, NRSs, and patient's global impression
of change data were collected. High-velocity, low-amplitude spinal manipulations were
administered by experienced doctors of chiropractic. The proportion of patients responding
“better” or “much better” on the patient's global impression of change scale was calculated.
Pretreatment and posttreatment NRSs and NDIs were compared using the Wilcoxon test.
Acute vs subacute/chronic patients' NRSs and NDIs were compared using the Mann-Whitney
U test.
Results
Fifty patients were included. At 2 weeks, 55.3% were “improved,” 68.9% at 1 month
and 85.7% at 3 months. Statistically significant decreases in neck pain, arm pain,
and NDI scores were noted at 1 and 3 months compared with baseline scores (P < .0001). Of the subacute/chronic patients, 76.2% were improved at 3 months.
Conclusions
Most patients in this study, including subacute/chronic patients, with symptomatic
magnetic resonance imaging–confirmed CDH treated with spinal manipulative therapy,
reported significant improvement with no adverse events.
Key Indexing Terms
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 14, 2013
Accepted:
June 27,
2013
Received in revised form:
June 24,
2013
Received:
May 31,
2013
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 National University of Health Sciences. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
