Halter cervical traction for the treatment of cervical radiculopathy in 81 cases / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

The efficiency of conservative treatment for cervical radiculopathy was retrospectively reviewed. Eighty-one patients were included; 40 patients presented with C7, 37 with C6, 2 with C5, and 2 with C8 radiculopathy. Seventy-eight patients underwent MRI examination prior to treatment, showing intervertebral disc protrusion in 71 cases, and spinal stenosis in 7. Eighty-one patients underwent a treatment wearing a cervical collar and home-based halter cervical traction 5-6 kg for 20 minutes, once a day for 3 to 6 weeks. The mean duration of symptoms prior to neurosurgical evaluation was (43.0?8.3) days. Sixty-three (78%) of 81 patients responded to therapeutic traction, experiencing significant or total pain relief, three could not tolerate the traction, and traction failed in 15 patients. Three (1.89%) of the 63 patients undergoing traction treatment suffered recurrence of symptoms and required surgery.