Zervikale Radikulopathie

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Marcus Pohl - , VAMED Klinik Schloss Pulsnitz (Author)
  • Tobias Back - , Department of Psychiatry, Sächsisches Krankenhaus Arnsdorf, German Society for Neurology (DGN) (Author)
  • Mario Leimert - , Asklepios Orthopaedic Clinic Hohwald (Author)
  • Jens Seifert - , Asklepios Orthopaedic Clinic Hohwald (Author)
  • Michael Stoffel - , Helios Hospital Group (Author)
  • Rena Isabel Amelung - , Bundesverband der Ergotherapeuten in Deutschland (BED) E.V. (Author)
  • Nicola Dodd - , Bundesverband der Ergotherapeuten in Deutschland (BED) E.V. (Author)
  • Birgitta Gibson - , German Pain League (Author)
  • Jennifer Linn - , Institute and Polyclinic of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neuroradiologie e.V. (Author)
  • Hermann Locher - , Deutsche Gesellschaft für Manuelle Medizin (DGMM) (Author)
  • Thomas Mokrusch - , Ärztlicher Direktor (Author)
  • Tobias L. Schulte - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Reina Tholen - , Forschung (Author)
  • Thomas Van De Weyer - , University of Lübeck (Author)

Abstract

Background Cervical Radiculopathy (CR) is a relatively common clinical syndrome that occurs in many areas of medicine and requires an interdisciplinary treatment approach. Although the main symptom is pain, the CR has some particularities, which the German Neurological Society takes into account in its own guideline. The main aim of this guideline was to convey the current state of knowledge for the treatment of CR. This guideline refers exclusively to the degenerative CR. Methodology The guideline is based on a search of guideline databases and medline. Under the moderation of the German Association of Scientific Medical Societies (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften (AWMF)), the consensus was reached by means of a nominal group process and the Delphi process. Due to the interdisciplinary treatment approach, the guideline committee was formed from experts of various medical (neurology, orthopedics, trauma surgery, neurosurgery, pain therapy, physical and rehabilitative medicine and manual medicine) and therapeutic disciplines (occupational therapy, physiotherapy) and the participation of pain self-help (German pain league). Results With regard to the evidence evaluation of the literature, it can be stated that the data on the question of the optimal procedure in CR is very heterogeneous. The use of physiotherapy in combination with manual therapy and movement exercises as well as certain surgical procedures in CR are evidence-based. There is a strong consensus among the participating medical societies that the primary approach is usually conservative. Physiotherapy in combination with manual therapy, occupational therapy to strengthen everyday life skills, early pain therapy, short-term intermittent immobilization by wearing a neck brace and periradicular infiltration therapy are recommended. Surgery should be recommended to the patient in the case of treatment-refractory pain syndrome after the use of conservative measures no later than 6 months after onset of symptoms. For lateral and intraforaminal disc herniations, an ACDF (»anterior cervical discectomy with fusion») or a PCF (»posterior cervical foraminotomy») may be used as the surgical procedure. The preferred method should be chosen here on an individual basis. For median and paramedian disc herniations, the ventral approach should be chosen. Conclusion The diagnosis of a CR is based on the anamnesis and the neurological examination and should be confirmed by an imaging method. In the absence of obstructive failures, the procedure should be primarily conservative and only primarily operative in rapidly progressive paresis. If the recommendations in the guideline are adhered to, the pain in ZR has a favorable prognosis.

Translated title of the contribution
Cervical Radiculopathy

Details

Original languageGerman
Pages (from-to)349-369
Number of pages21
JournalAktuelle Neurologie
Volume45
Issue number5
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2018
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas