This study was due to determine the therapeutic outcome of chronic cervical radiculopathy and the factors which influence the outcome of treatment. The subjects were 53 patients with cervical radiculopathy who had long-standing symptoms over 6 months without upper motor neuron signs. Of theses with chromic cervical radiculopathy, 29 patients were managed with conservative treatment and 24 patients underwent surgical treatment. Symptomatic improvement was shown in 83% of 29 patients in conservative treatment group and 75% of 24 patients in surgical treatment group, respectively. There was no significant difference between the results of two treatment groups. In the patients group of conservative treatment, several factors, such as, age, sex, symptoms and radiologic grade, radiologic type, the number of involved roots, traumatic history were investigated whether they have influenced the results of treatment or not. In patients with chronic cervical radiculopathy, there were no factors that influenced the outcome significantly. Of all 22 patients without trauma history, excellent outcome was shown in 5 patients and none of the patients with trauma history. So trauma history should be considered importantly for outcome measurement in patients with chronic radiculopathy and further evaluation of psycho-social status would be needed. |