Assessment of the results of surgical treatment and postoperative physiotherapy in patients with degenerations of the cervical spine

Background. Cervical spine pain syndromes are a serious contemporary problem, both medical and social. They lead to limiting professional life in highly developed countries. Surgical treatment of cervical degenarations and discopathy is the method of choice when conservative treatment has not improved. The aim. The aim of this study was to attempt to assess the early results of surgical treatment of patients treated for osteoarthritis of the cervical spine. Material and methods. A group of 36 patients was examined, including 20 women and 16 men surgically treated for osteoarthritis of the cervical spine. Patients were divided into two groups. The study group received additional developed recommendations and a list of exercises in the field of independent post-hospital physiotherapy. The evaluated parameters were evaluated twice: before surgery and 2 months after surgery. The following research tools were used to evaluate treatment results: DASH questionnaire, NDI functional assessment scale, visual analog pain scale (VAS). Conclusions. The applied treatment resulted in a decrease in the intensity of pain, a decrease in the degree of disability of the limb and an improvement in the functional status of patients. In the group of patients with additional recommendations on the principles of rehabilitation and prevention, a higher degree of improvement was obtained in the scope of: intensity of pain radiating to the limbs and functional state.