Cervical Disc Arthroplasty for Axial Neck Pain: Comparison of Outcomes to 2 Other Common Cervical Conditions

Background Cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) is an established treatment for degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy and/or myelopathy. There is, however, little published evidence of its effectiveness to relieve pain and improve function in patients with a primary diagnosis of axial neck pain. Such patients were excluded from all previous Food and Drug Administration clinical trials for CDA. We compare the outcomes of patients who underwent CDA for 3 common cervical conditions from 2003 to 2018.

Methods Seven hundred and eighty-two CDA patients at a single site were grouped by primary diagnosis: predominant axial neck pain (ANP) (n = 257), predominant radiculopathy (RAD) (n = 331), or a combination of both (ANP + RAD) (n = 195). Mixed models for repeated measures predicted and analyzed scores at all time points, adjusting for diagnosis group, time point, and, if statistically significant, number of operative levels and demographic characteristics. Outcome measures included the Neck Disability Index, numerical pain scales (intensity plus frequency), the Veterans RAND 12 Item Health Survey (VR-12) Physical Component Score, the Mental Component Score, and reoperations. Patients were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and annually thereafter.

Results At baseline, arm pain scores in the ANP group were statistically lower (P = .0002) than in the RAD and ANP + RAD groups, consistent with preoperative diagnoses. Surgeries included 40.8% 1-level, 41.6% 2-level, 14.7% 3-level, and 2.9% 4-level. For all outcome measures, improvements were statistically significant from baseline to each postoperative time point without statistical difference between the 3 diagnosis groups. In total, 45/782 patients (5.8%) underwent a secondary surgery: 3.5% ANP, 5.8% RAD, and 8.7% ANP + RAD. Days to reoperation did not statistically differ between groups (P = .489).

Conclusions Appropriately selected patients with predominant axial neck pain treated with CDA may achieve clinical and functional outcomes comparable to patients with a primary diagnosis of radiculopathy or of axial neck pain with concomitant radiculopathy.

Clinical Relevance This study provides information that should help clinicians decide whether to offer CDA for patients with a primary diagnosis of axial neck pain and to appropriately counsel such patients about expected outcomes.

Level of Evidence 4