Clinical Consult

Hi All,
Currently I am looking for references regarding rehabilitation principles after cervical fusion, mostly anterior fusion. I did run Medline search and found two somewhat similar articles but only abstract as below. Can anyone be able to post full text articles or share your clinic rehabilitation principles with evidence regarding anterior cervical fusion?

1. Long-Term Effectiveness of Combined Spine Surgery and Functional
Restoration: A Prospective Study, Journal Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation Issue Volume 10, Number 3 / September, 2000, Pages 235-239

2. Impact of functional restoration after anterior cervical fusion on chronic disability in work-related neck pain.
Source Spine Journal: Official Journal of the North American Spine Society. 2(4):267-73, 2002 Jul-Aug.

Many Thanks in Advance,
Francis Jung

Comments

[Mary Ann Spanos]

Frances,
My husband had an anterior cervical fusion at the age of 42 (now 51) at the Hospital for Special Sugery in NYC. The orthopedist was Dr. Patrick O'Leary who has offices there on Park Ave. My husbands case was complicated by osteophytes that had formed within the spinal column b/w C3-C4 and C4-C5. He had also herniated the disc b/w C4-C5. Dr O'Leary did an anterior cervical fusion and shaved the osteophytes that were compressing his cord. Post-op protocol was a rigid collar 24/7 for 3 months. No pillow for 3 months. No exercise beyond ADLs. Since he had a desk job he was able to return to work part time after 1 month. After the 3 month period there were no restrictions. 9 years later he has no problems. I don't have any articles but I hope this gives you a starting point. Dr. O'Leary also worked on the New York Jet who broke his neck during a game about 15 years ago. He also had an excellent recovery.

[Carol McFarland]

Hi Frances,
This has been an area of interest to me for a number of years, since we work with two surgeons who send us many patients ACF postop. We were frustrated with the lack of information out there about protocols for these patients, and ended up making our own. On two different occasions, we tried to collect data and publish. In 1994, we did a cohort case study just to report what we did with the patients, but could not get it published. In 2002, we collected data on about 100 postsurgical patients, looking at many variables relating to outcomes and trying to find trends, but didn't find much worth publishing. I have kept the search words in PtbMed for years to see if someone will publish a protocol. I am interested in trying again, having now met many colleagues who are interested in the same thing.
Carol McFarland PT MS OCS