Case Reports
. 2022 Sep 9;14(9):e28988.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.28988.
eCollection 2022 Sep.
Affiliations
Affiliation
- 1 Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, Ravi Nair Physiotherapy College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, IND.
Item in Clipboard
Case Reports
Nikita H Seth et al.
Cureus.
.
Display options
Format
. 2022 Sep 9;14(9):e28988.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.28988.
eCollection 2022 Sep.
Affiliation
- 1 Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, Ravi Nair Physiotherapy College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, IND.
Item in Clipboard
Display options
Format
Abstract
The standard treatment for multiple levels of cervical prolapsed intervertebral disk (PIVD) is anterior cervical decompression and fusion. Although it is associated with positive outcomes, it is also fraught with complications. In this report, we present an unusual postoperative case of a 58-year-old male who underwent anterior decompression and cervical fusion at two levels – C4-C5 and C5-C6 – for traumatic PIVD and developed a postoperative complication of unilateral C5 motor palsy, making it difficult for the patient to elevate the shoulder. This postoperative complication had no known cause, but it could be iatrogenic or due to structural variation. There is sparse research on possible ways to avoid this complication. Physiotherapy management is critical in improving the patient’s functional recovery. The neck and upper extremity functional measure scale and Neurogenic Claudication Outcome Score (NCOS) scale were used for measuring outcomes. The patient also had a two-year history of tingling and numbness in both lower extremities, which was treated conservatively. The difficulties that physiotherapists encounter in managing this uncommon postoperative complication in addition to the lumbar PIVD make it unique. The key to a better prognosis is early detection and management.
Keywords:
anterior decompression; c5 nerve root palsy; case report; cervical fusion; claudication; rehabilitation.
Copyright © 2022, Seth et al.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Figures
Similar articles
-
Pediatric cervical kyphosis in the MRI era (1984-2008) with long-term follow up: literature review.
Menezes AH, Traynelis VC.
Menezes AH, et al.
Childs Nerv Syst. 2022 Feb;38(2):361-377. doi: 10.1007/s00381-021-05409-z. Epub 2021 Nov 22.
Childs Nerv Syst. 2022.PMID: 34806157
Review.
-
Extremely wide and asymmetric anterior decompression causes postoperative C5 palsy: an analysis of 32 patients with postoperative C5 palsy after anterior cervical decompression and fusion.
Odate S, Shikata J, Yamamura S, Soeda T.
Odate S, et al.
Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2013 Dec 1;38(25):2184-9. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000000019.
Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2013.PMID: 24108301
-
Anterior transcorporeal approach of percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy for disc herniation at the C4-C5 levels: a technical note.
Deng ZL, Chu L, Chen L, Yang JS.
Deng ZL, et al.
Spine J. 2016 May;16(5):659-66. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2016.01.187. Epub 2016 Feb 2.
Spine J. 2016.PMID: 26850173
-
Bilateral C5 Motor Palsy after Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.
Andelman SM, McAnany SJ, Qureshi SA, Hecht AC.
Andelman SM, et al.
Int J Spine Surg. 2017 May 1;11(2):14. doi: 10.14444/4014. eCollection 2017.
Int J Spine Surg. 2017.PMID: 28765798
Free PMC article. -
C5 palsy following anterior decompression and spinal fusion for cervical degenerative diseases.
Hashimoto M, Mochizuki M, Aiba A, Okawa A, Hayashi K, Sakuma T, Takahashi H, Koda M, Takahashi K, Yamazaki M.
Hashimoto M, et al.
Eur Spine J. 2010 Oct;19(10):1702-10. doi: 10.1007/s00586-010-1427-5. Epub 2010 May 12.
Eur Spine J. 2010.PMID: 20461418
Free PMC article.Review.
References
-
-
Surgical management of cervical myelopathy: indications and techniques for multilevel cervical discectomy. Hillard VH, Apfelbaum RI. Spine J. 2006;6:242–251.
–
PubMed
-
-
-
A case report of silent cervical spondylosis with neck pain. Zoting M, Uttamchandani S, Deshmukh M, Wadhokar O. J Pharm Res Int. 2021;232:232–237.
-
Cite