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Table 2 Descriptive report of included studies

From: Manual therapy interventions in the management of adults with prior cervical spine surgery for degenerative conditions: a scoping review

Citation

Study design (n)

Years of age

Sex

Medical history

Pre-surgical pathology/ indication

Surgical history

Post-surgical history

Adverse events

Casagrande et al. [34]

Case report (1)

29

Male

Unknown cause of initial onset of neck and right shoulder pain with limited mobility due to lack of strength and pain

Failed nonoperative therapy prior to CSS

Weakness in right arm abduction

No biceps reflex

MRI revealed right sided C4-C5 HNP compressing 5th nerve root

Right-sided anterior discectomy and interbody fusion with autologous bone from left iliac crest, plate placement between C4-C5

No surgical complications, discharged without pain

Advised to wear Philadelphia cervical collar for 4-weeks

4-weeks post-operative x-rays revealed no abnormalities

10-weeks post-operative CT revealed no abnormalities and “good fusion” between C4-C5

Not reported

Cole et al. [49]

Case report (1)

70

Male

Presented to chiropractic clinic with chronic radiating LBP and cervical / thoracic junction pain

Alcohol dependence in remission, PTSD and depression previously requiring hospitalization

Lumbar laminectomy

Long-term opioid therapy

Not Reported

C3-C7 fusion

Chronic cervical / thoracic junction pain

Prior course of physical therapy, interventional spine procedures, long-term opioid therapy

Not Reported

(Response to care following initial visit was reported to be without adverse effects)

Cooper and Golberg [35]

Case report (1)

43

Female

Extensive history of neck pain

Not reported

C6-C7 anterior fusion

Diagnosed with acquired cervical kyphosis, with associated cervicalgia, thoracic spine pain, lumbago

Not reported

Harrison et al. [36]

Case report (1)

62

Male

Not reported

C5-C6 instability, vertebral spondylosis, HNP

C5-C6 fusion using autologous iliac crest bone graft (13-years prior to intervention)

2nd operation consisting of anterior fusion with plate and autologous bone (12-years prior to intervention)

Patient continued to suffer from post-surgical axial and radicular symptoms

Patient sought treatment for neck pain, numbness, tingling in right anterolateral forearm, and right arm weakness

Not reported

Murphy and Morris [37]

Case Report (1)

52

Male

Acetaminophen and oxycodone provided relief of neck pain

ROS: recent onset of bilateral tinnitus; occasional chills and “fevers”; new onset balance problems; history of smoking and ETOH consumption; no regular exercise

BP 155/90; Temperature 97.5 Fahrenheit (36.3 Celcius); respirations 25/minute; pulse rate 102 bpm

Not reported

C5-C6, C6-C7 anterior fusion (8 years prior to intervention)

2nd operation with insertion of instrumentation (6 years prior to intervention)

Recurrent episodes of neck pain

Presented to ED 1 week prior to intervention for sharp pain in lower cervical area with referral to left shoulder; given a soft collar and released to follow up with PCP

PCP referred patient for chiropractic evaluation

Mortality

Polkinghorn and Colloca [38]

Case report (1)

35

Female

15-year history of neck pain and cervical muscle spasm

6-month failed course of analgesics, NSAIDs, PT

Not reported

C3-C4 discectomy

C5-C6 fusion 6-months following 1st surgery

Pain persisted after 2nd surgery for another 12-months

Episodic cervical muscle spasms

Condition exacerbated by cold/damp weather

Not reported

Salvatori et al. [39]

Case report (1)

46

Female

Osteoarthritis, HTN, LBP, neck pain with headache

1-year history of neck pain, headaches, frequent fatigue of upper quarter, intermittent pain referred to LUE

C5-C6, C6-C7 ACDF (8-weeks prior to intervention)

6-weeks immobilization of cervical spine with Aspen collar

Improved pain referral to LUE

No improvement in headache frequency or intensity, neck pain, upper quarter fatigue

New onset of restricted cervical flexion and extension ROM, cervical muscle tightness and fatigue, intermittent referred pain to RUE

Not reported

Tibbles [42]

Case report (1)

28

Male

Initial onset of neck and upper back pain secondary to carrying daughter on shoulders; 24 h later experienced RUE numbness

4 1/2-month subsequent history of neck pain with radiation into RUE prior to CSS

C6–C7 right posterolateral HNP

C5–C6 discectomy

Persistent arm pain at discharge

6-weeks post-operative CT revealed C6-C7 HNP, surgical intervention completed at incorrect cervical (C5-C6) level

Lower right-sided neck pain radiating into right trapezius muscle

Not reported

Bloink and Blum [43]

Case report (2)

30

52

Male

Female

Ski related injury; unable to run/walk > 1/2 mile due to pain

Use of dental device

Not reported

Loss of sensation, function of right 3rd and 4th fingers; 5 months of physical therapy without improvement

Significant neck pain with pain radiating into right arm and 2nd, 3rd fingers

C5-C6 disc replacement

C5–C6, C6–C7 disc replacement

Symptoms improved for 3 months with recurrence of right neck pain, periscapular, and upper arm pain; experienced same symptoms on left side 2 x/week

3-months post-operative cervical MRI negative for pathology; attended physical therapy without improvement, trialed Neurontin

Symptoms resolved initially with recurrence and progressive worsening in right arm; developed left arm to finger pain

Not Reported

Not reported

Malone et al. [40]

Case series (2)

59

49

Male

Male

Chronic neck pain

Not reported

C7 right radiculopathy

Not reported

C6-C7 allograft ACDF

C4-C5 fusion

Not reported

Fell at work, developed hand tingling and neck pain which he sought cervical SMT

Loss of function in hands followed by loss of ability to ambulate; decrease in UE strength; broad and spastic gait; diminished lower extremity proprioception; MRI revealed C5-C6 HNP causing marked spinal cord compression and abnormal signal in cord; underwent C6 surgical corpectomy and allograft strut- and plate-assisted fusion

Worsening of right arm pain and weakness; diminished grip strength; 3 + DTRs; positive Hoffman bilaterally; radiography revealed HNP compressing cord at C5-C6; surgical intervention resulted

Peolsson et al. [32]

Randomized Clinical Trial (63)

Mean age 46

34 men, 29 women

Inclusion Criteria: 18–65 years of age

Cervical radiculopathy for ≥ 8-weeks but < 5-years

MRI with confirmed nerve root compression due to CDD of 1 or 2 segmental levels

Group 1: ACDF included in intervention

Group 2: No prior CSS

Not applicable

Not reported

Ren et al. [33]

Randomized Clinical Trial (86)

Mean age 54.2

29 men, 43 women

Inclusion Criteria: > 18 years of age

Anxiety disorder ≥ 6 months prior to surgery

 > 1-day post-operative following open reduction and internal fixation surgery

Not Reported

Group 1: Open reduction and internal fixation

Group 2: Open reduction and internal fixation

Not applicable

Not reported

  1. CSS cervical spine surgery, MRI magnetic resonance imaging, CT computed tomography, PTSD post-traumatic stress disorder, HNP herniated nucleus pulposus, ROS review of systems, ETOH alcohol, ED emergency department, PCP primary care provider, NSAIDs non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, PT physical therapy, HTN hypertension, LBP low back pain, LUE left upper extremity, ACDF anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, ROM ranges of motion, RUE right upper extremity, SMT spinal manipulative therapy, CDD cervical degenerative disease