Effect of interference electrotherapy combined with rotary traction manipulation on cervical function and recurrence in patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of combining interference electrotherapy with rotary traction manipulation in treating cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR), and to assess its impact on cervical function and prognosis.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data from 214 CSR patients who were treated at Yueyang Central Hospital, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, from April 2021 to October 2023. The observation group (n=110) received combined therapy using interference electrotherapy and rotary traction manipulation, while the control group (n=104) received rotary traction manipulation alone. Before treatment, and at 2 and 4 weeks post-treatment, cervical function was assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and pain intensity was measured using components of the Simplified McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), including Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Present Pain Intensity (PPI), and Pain Rating Index (PRI). Clinical efficacy was evaluated using the modified Macnab criteria, and treatment safety was assessed. Both groups were followed up for one year to record recurrence rates. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for recurrence.

Results: Baseline characteristics were similar between groups (P>0.05). After 2 and 4 weeks, the observation group showed significantly greater improvements in NDI, VAS, PRI, and PPI scores compared to the control group (P<0.001). The total effective rate was higher in the observation group (92.7%) than in the control group (80.8%) (P=0.017). However, the recurrence rate was significantly higher in the observation group (7.3%) compared to the control group (20.2%) (P=0.006). Logistic regression identified treatment regimen, patient age, and pillow height as independent risk factors for recurrence (P<0.05). A recurrence risk scoring model based on these factors achieved an AUC of 0.897 (95% CI: 0.844-0.951).

Conclusion: Combining interference electrotherapy with rotary traction manipulation significantly improves cervical function and alleviates pain in CSR patients, yielding higher overall efficacy. However, this combination is associated with an increased risk of recurrence, influenced by treatment method, patient age, and pillow height.