Function After Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Surgery: Timing of Physical Therapy

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-75
SponsorVanderbilt University Medical Center

About this trial

The goal of this two-group randomized clinical trial is to examine the effects of early postoperative PT compared to delayed postoperative PT for improving outcomes after hospital discharge for ACDF surgery.

The main question this clinical trial aims to answer are:

* Whether early PT participants will demonstrate greater improvements in outcomes compared to delayed PT participants. * Whether improvements in handgrip strength, cervical endurance, and cervical range of motion will be associated with improvements in outcomes.

Participants will be randomized to one of two groups (early PT or delayed PT) and outcomes compared across groups.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Surgical treatment of a cervical degenerative condition using a 1- or 2-level ACDF procedure;

English speaking due to feasibility of employing study personnel to deliver and assess the study intervention; and

Age 18-75 years of age (individuals older than 75 are more likely to experience respiratory and nervous system complications and death following ACDF)

Disqualifiers

Surgery secondary to trauma, fracture, tumor, infection, or spinal deformity;

Undergoing cervical corpectomy;

Prior history of cervical spine surgery in last 5 years;

Diagnosis or presence of osteoporosis;

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Early PT

    Other intervention

    Physical therapy delivered within the first three months after surgery.

  • Delayed PT

    Other intervention

    Physical therapy delivered greater than 3 months after surgery.

Treatment groups

76 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups
Group A: Early Physical Therapy (PT)Experimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Delayed Physical Therapy (PT)Active comparator 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Disability

Neck Disability Index, 0-100 with higher scores indicating increased disability

Time frame
6 and 12 months after hospital discharge

Secondary outcomes

1

Pain Intensity

Numeric Rating Scale, 0-10 with higher scores indicating increased pain intensity

Time frame
6 and 12 months after hospital discharge
2

Pain Interference

PROMIS, 0-100 with higher scores indicating increased pain interference

Time frame
6 and 12 months after hospital discharge
3

Physical Function

PROMIS, 0-100 with higher scores indicating better physical function

Time frame
6 and 12 months after hospital discharge
4

Opioid Utilization

MMEs

Time frame
6 and 12 months after hospital discharge

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Lead sponsor

United States Department of Defense

Collaborator