John F McKeon, Paul M Alvarez, Diego Martinez Castaneda, Uchechukwu Emili, James Kirven, Anthony D Belmonte, Varun Singh
{"title":"Cervical Collar Use Following Cervical Spine Surgery: A Systematic Review.","authors":"John F McKeon, Paul M Alvarez, Diego Martinez Castaneda, Uchechukwu Emili, James Kirven, Anthony D Belmonte, Varun Singh","doi":"10.2106/JBJS.RVW.24.00114","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The utility and risks associated with the use of cervical collars in the postoperative period after cervical spine surgery have been of debate. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the currently available evidence on the use of cervical collars after cervical spine surgery to assess their impact on outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A literature search of the PubMed database was performed using keywords \"cervical collar,\" \"anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF),\" \"posterior cervical decompression and fusion,\" \"laminoplasty,\" \"post-operative orthotic bracing,\" \"cervical decompression,\" and \"cervical orthosis\" in all possible combinations. All English studies with the level of evidence of I to IV that were published from May 1, 1986, to December 3, 2023, were considered for inclusion.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 25 articles meeting the inclusion criteria were identified and reviewed. Regarding anterior and posterior fusion procedures, cervical collar use demonstrated improved short-term patient-reported outcomes and pain control. While surgeon motivation for collar use was to increase fusion rates, this is not well drawn out in the literature with the majority of studies demonstrated no significant difference in fusion rates between patients who wore a cervical collar and those who did not. Regarding motion-preserving procedures such as cervical laminoplasty, patients with prolonged postoperative cervical collar use demonstrated increased rates of axial neck pain and decreased final range of motion (ROM).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Surgeon motivation for postoperative cervical collar immobilization after completion of fusion procedures is to increase fusion rates and improve postoperative pain and disability despite this not being fully drawn out in the literature. After completion of motion-sparing procedures, the benefits of collar immobilization diminish with their prolonged use which could lead to increased rates of axial neck pain and decreased ROM. Cervical collar immobilization in the postoperative period should be considered its own intervention, with its own associated risk-benefit profile.</p><p><strong>Level of evidence: </strong>Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.</p>","PeriodicalId":47098,"journal":{"name":"JBJS Reviews","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.7000,"publicationDate":"2024-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"JBJS Reviews","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.RVW.24.00114","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/9/1 0:00:00","PubModel":"eCollection","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"SURGERY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: The utility and risks associated with the use of cervical collars in the postoperative period after cervical spine surgery have been of debate. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the currently available evidence on the use of cervical collars after cervical spine surgery to assess their impact on outcomes.
Methods: A literature search of the PubMed database was performed using keywords "cervical collar," "anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)," "posterior cervical decompression and fusion," "laminoplasty," "post-operative orthotic bracing," "cervical decompression," and "cervical orthosis" in all possible combinations. All English studies with the level of evidence of I to IV that were published from May 1, 1986, to December 3, 2023, were considered for inclusion.
Results: A total of 25 articles meeting the inclusion criteria were identified and reviewed. Regarding anterior and posterior fusion procedures, cervical collar use demonstrated improved short-term patient-reported outcomes and pain control. While surgeon motivation for collar use was to increase fusion rates, this is not well drawn out in the literature with the majority of studies demonstrated no significant difference in fusion rates between patients who wore a cervical collar and those who did not. Regarding motion-preserving procedures such as cervical laminoplasty, patients with prolonged postoperative cervical collar use demonstrated increased rates of axial neck pain and decreased final range of motion (ROM).
Conclusion: Surgeon motivation for postoperative cervical collar immobilization after completion of fusion procedures is to increase fusion rates and improve postoperative pain and disability despite this not being fully drawn out in the literature. After completion of motion-sparing procedures, the benefits of collar immobilization diminish with their prolonged use which could lead to increased rates of axial neck pain and decreased ROM. Cervical collar immobilization in the postoperative period should be considered its own intervention, with its own associated risk-benefit profile.
Level of evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
期刊介绍:
JBJS Reviews is an innovative review journal from the publishers of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. This continuously published online journal provides comprehensive, objective, and authoritative review articles written by recognized experts in the field. Edited by Thomas A. Einhorn, MD, and a distinguished Editorial Board, each issue of JBJS Reviews, updates the orthopaedic community on important topics in a concise, time-saving manner, providing expert insights into orthopaedic research and clinical experience. Comprehensive reviews, special features, and integrated CME provide orthopaedic surgeons with valuable perspectives on surgical practice and the latest advances in the field within twelve subspecialty areas: Basic Science, Education & Training, Elbow, Ethics, Foot & Ankle, Hand & Wrist, Hip, Infection, Knee, Oncology, Pediatrics, Pain Management, Rehabilitation, Shoulder, Spine, Sports Medicine, Trauma.