The following is a summary of “Athrodesis of the Lateral Atlanto-Axial Joint for the Relief of Neck Pain and Cervicogenic Headache,” published in the November 2023 issue of Pain by Ferch et al.
Osteoarthritis in the upper neck joint can cause persistent pain and headaches. Steroid injections offer temporary relief, but fusion surgery (arthrodesis) may be an option for intractable pain.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study investigating the effectiveness of arthrodesis in alleviating neck pain and improving disability in patients with atlanto-axial joint osteoarthritis.
They assessed outcomes with a numerical rating scale for neck pain and the Neck Disability Index. Success rates were calculated for different degrees of long-term improvement in neck pain (8–40 months) and combinations of improvement in neck pain and disability.
The results showed that 40% of patients achieved complete pain relief, while another 40% experienced at least 50% relief. In the long-term follow-up, 30% of patients had no neck pain and disability, and an additional 25% had minimal pain, minimal disability, or both.
Investigators concluded that arthrodesis for LAAJ pain and disability aligns with recent transparent data, offering physicians empirical evidence for referral decisions.
Source: academic.oup.com/painmedicine/advance-article/doi/10.1093/pm/pnad153/7429402?searchresult=1
