Study and analysis of rehabilitation effect in patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion

Gu Xiaokai; Fan Jianping

doi:10.3760/j.issn.1673-4777.2026.07.013

Abstract：Objective To investigate the rehabilitation effect and its influencing factors in patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy(CSR)after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion(ACDF).Methods Clinical data of 142 CSR patients treated with ACDF in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University from June 2020 to June 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.All patients were followed up for 3 months postoperatively.The rehabilitation effect was evaluated using the rehabilitation evaluation scale for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy(RES-CSR).Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of postoperative rehabilitation effect,and the product term test in multiple linear regression was used to analyze the interaction between factors.Results The RES-CSR score of 142 CSR patients at 3 months after ACDF was 77±15,indicating a moderate rehabilitation level.Multiple linear regression analysis showed that age ≥65 years(β=-0.160,P=0.001),diabetes mellitus(β=-0.120,P=0.002),exercise intensity＜3 times/week(β=-0.229,P＜0.001),comorbid anxiety/depression(β=-0.199,P＜0.001),Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA)score＜12 at 1 month postoperatively(β=-0.268,P＜0.001),and postoperative dysphagia(β=-0.197,P＜0.001)were independent risk factors affecting the rehabilitation effect after ACDF.There was no significant interaction effect of these risk factors on rehabilitation outcome.Conclusion The overall rehabilitation effect of CSR patients after ACDF is moderate.Age,diabetes mellitus,exercise intensity,anxiety/depression,JOA score at 1 month postop-eratively,and dysphagia are core factors affecting postoperative rehabilitation.Targeted intervention strategies based on these factors can help improve the quality of postoperative rehabilitation.