Abstract

Cervical discopathy is a serious medical and social problem. Displacement of the intervertebral disc into the vertebral canal compresses spinal nerve roots and/or the spinal cord. Cage fusion and the implantation of a mobile disc prosthesis have recently been introduced in surgery. The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of physiotherapeutic management of patients with multi-level cervical discopathy treated by microdiscectomy and cage fusion. A group of 23 patients was followed up over six weeks, including 20 patients after two-level surgery (Group A) and 3 after three-level surgery (Group B). The progress of rehabilitation was evaluated on the basis of :- muscle strength (Lovett test), – range of motion, – regression of pain (VAS scale) and paraesthesiae. In Group A, neck pain disappeared in 18 patients, and paraesthesiae in the upper limbs disappeared in 12 patients; 14 patients fully recovered muscle strength in the limbs, and 16 patients recovered the full range of motion in the shoulder joints. In group B, two patients reported regression of the neck pain, one fully recovered muscle strength, and two recovered the full range of motion in the shoulder joints. Conclusions1. The physiotherapy of patients with multi-level cervical discopathies following cage fusion surgery was an effective adjunctive treatment in this group of patients. 2. Early institution of appropriate procedures may result in full motor recovery

Key words:

cervical discopathy, implants, physiotherapy