C5 Palsy After Cervical Decompression Procedures:

Treatment of C5 Palsy: An International Survey of Peripheral Nerve Surgeons

STUDY DESIGN

International survey.

OBJECTIVES

C5 palsy (C5P) is a neurological complication affecting 5-10% of patients after cervical decompression surgery. Most cases improve with conservative treatment; however, nearly 20% of patients may be left with residual deficits. Guidelines are lacking on C5P management and timing of surgical intervention. Therefore, we sought to survey peripheral nerve surgeons on their management of C5P.

METHODS

An online survey was distributed centered around a patient with C5P after posterior cervical decompression and fusion. Questions included surgeon demographics, diagnostic modalities, and timing and choice of operation. Responses were summarized and the chi-squared and Kruskal-Wallis H tests were used to examine differences across specialties.

RESULTS

A total of 154 surgeons responded to the survey, of which 59 (38%) indicated that they manage C5P cases. Average time prior to operating was 4.5 ± 2.2 months for complete injuries and 6.6 ± 3.2 months for partial injuries, with neurosurgeons significantly more likely to wait longer periods for complete (P = .01) and partial injuries (P = .03). Foraminotomies were selected by 19% of surgeons, while 92% selected nerve transfers. Transfer of the ulnar nerve to the musculocutaneous nerve was the most common choice (81%), followed by transfer of the radial nerve to the axillary nerve (58%).

CONCLUSION

Consensus exists among peripheral nerve surgeons on the use of nerve transfers for surgical treatment in cases with severe motor weakness failing to improve. Most surgeons advocate for early intervention in complete injuries. Disagreement concerns the type of nerve transfer employed, timing of surgery, and efficacy of foraminotomy.

Prophylactic perioperative dexamethasone decreases the incidence of postoperative C5 palsies after a posterior cervical laminectomy and fusion

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Postoperative C5 palsy is a well-known complication of cervical decompression procedures. Studies have shown that posterior laminectomy and fusions confer the greatest risk of C5 palsy. Despite this, pharmacologic preventive measures remain unknown. We hypothesize that prophylactic perioperative dexamethasone (DEX) will decrease the rate of postoperative C5 palsy in patients undergoing a multilevel posterior cervical laminectomy and fusion.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of prophylactic perioperative DEX in decreasing the rate of postoperative C5 palsy.

DESIGN

This is a retrospective, single-institution clinical study.

PATIENT SAMPLE

The patient population included all patients undergoing multilevel posterior cervical laminectomy and instrumented fusion procedures for myeloradiculopathy or myelopathy, who also received a course of perioperative dexamethasone. Surgeries occurred between 2012 and 2017 at a single tertiary care center by a single surgeon with at least 1 year of follow-up. Patients who underwent decompression procedures other than multilevel posterior cervical laminectomy and instrumented fusions; had trauma, fracture; underwent decompression not including C5-level, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus; and had documented adverse reactions to steroids were excluded.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Preoperative demographics and postoperative complications, including development of postoperative C5 palsy, were considered as outcome measures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 189 consecutive patients who underwent multilevel posterior cervical laminectomy and instrumented fusion and received prophylactic perioperative DEX were reviewed. The rate of C5 palsy was investigated and compared with our historical control rate of C5 palsy before the institutional implementation of perioperative DEX. Demographics were reviewed, and risk factor stratification was analyzed. The safety of using DEX was investigated by examining postoperative complications. The clinical course of patients who developed C5 palsy was then reported.

RESULTS

Postoperative C5 palsy occurred in 5 of the 138 patients (3.6%) meeting the inclusion criteria. Patients receiving perioperative DEX had a significantly decreased rate of postoperative C5 palsy compared with those who did not (3.6% vs. 9.5%, p=.01). Age was the only risk factor that was significantly correlated with development of C5 palsy (72.71±7.76 vs. 61.07±10.59, p=.02). Infection, seroma, and wound complication rates were 2.8%, 2.17%, and 1.44%, respectively, in patients receiving prophylactic DEX. All five patients receiving DEX who developed C5 palsy recovered with no residual deficits at an average of 16.8 weeks postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Perioperative prophylactic DEX therapy is a safe and effective way to decrease the incidence of C5 palsies in patients who undergo multilevel posterior laminectomy and fusion for myeloradiculopathy or myelopathy.

C5 Palsy After Cervical Spine Surgery: A Multicenter Retrospective Review of 59 Cases

STUDY DESIGN

A multicenter, retrospective review of C5 palsy after cervical spine surgery.

OBJECTIVE

Postoperative C5 palsy is a known complication of cervical decompressive spinal surgery. The goal of this study was to review the incidence, patient characteristics, and outcome of C5 palsy in patients undergoing cervical spine surgery.

METHODS

We conducted a multicenter, retrospective review of 13 946 patients across 21 centers who received cervical spine surgery (levels C2 to C7) between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2011, inclusive. P values were calculated using 2-sample t test for continuous variables and χ² tests or Fisher exact tests for categorical variables.

RESULTS

Of the 13 946 cases reviewed, 59 patients experienced a postoperative C5 palsy. The incidence rate across the 21 sites ranged from 0% to 2.5%. At most recent follow-up, 32 patients reported complete resolution of symptoms (54.2%), 15 had symptoms resolve with residual effects (25.4%), 10 patients did not recover (17.0%), and 2 were lost to follow-up (3.4%).

CONCLUSION

C5 palsy occurred in all surgical approaches and across a variety of diagnoses. The majority of patients had full recovery or recovery with residual effects. This study represents the largest series of North American patients reviewed to date.

Incidence and prognostic factors of c5 palsy: a clinical study of 1001 cases and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

C5 palsy is a known cause of postoperative deltoid weakness. Prognostic variables affecting the incidence of the palsy have been poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the incidence and perioperative characteristics/predictors of C5 palsy after anterior vs posterior operations.

METHODS

All patients undergoing C4-5 operations for degenerative conditions were retrospectively reviewed over 21 years. Anterior operations included an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) or a corpectomy, whereas posterior operations included laminectomy and fusion (± foraminotomies).

RESULTS

Of the total 1001 operations, in 49.0% anterior and 51.0% posterior cases, there was an overall C5 palsy incidence of 5.2% (52 cases): 1.6% and 8.6%, respectively (P < .001). Of the 99 corpectomies, the palsy incidence of 4.0% was not only higher than ACDFs (1.0%), but also followed an upward trend with increasing corpectomy levels (P = .009). Of the 69 posterior and 83 anterior C4-5 foraminotomies, the incidence of C5 palsy was statistically higher in the posterior (14.5%) vs anterior (2.4%) cohort (P = .01). Multiple logistical regression identified older age as the strongest predictor of C5 palsy in the anterior (P = .02) and C4-5 foraminotomy in the posterior (P = .06) cohort. This condition improved within 3 to 6 months in 75% of patients in the anterior and 88.6% in the posterior cohort after a mean follow-up of 14.4 and 27.6 months, respectively.

CONCLUSION

In one of the largest cohorts on C5 palsy, we found in anterior operations an increasing number of corpectomy levels had a higher incidence of C5 palsy; however, older age was the strongest predictor of C5 palsy. In posterior operations, C4-5 foraminotomy carried the strongest correlation.

[Posterior cervical foraminotomy for the treatment of foraminal conflicts]

Introducción:

La foraminomotima cervical posterior es un procedimiento utilizado para la descompresion radicular por via posterior y constituye una alternativa a la via clásica anterior. En este trabajo evaluamos nuestra serie de pacientes tratados por esta via.

Método:

Desde enero de 2008 a diciembre de 2011, 17 pacientes (18 foraminotomías) fueron operados por presentar cervicobraquialgia a causa de un conflicto foraminal, realizando un foraminotomía cervical posterior. Los pacientes fueron evaluados en el postoperatorio inmediato, al mes y a los 3 meses de la cirugía. Los parámetros para valorar los resultados fueron la Escala Análoga del Dolor (VAS), la Neck Disability Index y los criterios de Odom.

Resultados:

El dolor radicular por conflicto foraminal secundario a hernia de disco cervical fue el síntoma y la patología predominante. El nivel más afectado fue C5-C6. La resolución completa del dolor radicular se observó en casi todos los pacientes. La VAS preoperatoria en promedio fue de 8.8 (mínimo 8 – máximo 10), con una franca mejoría en todos los casos (0.4 en el último control). La media en la Neck Disability Index al inicio fue de 35.3 (mínimo 32 – máximo 45), con una evolución favorable en la evaluación final (0.6). Los Criterios de Odom para la evaluación de pacientes operados de columna cervical fueron satisfactorios con un promedio de 1.17. Se observaron complicaciones en 4 pacientes (23%), todas tuvieron una evolución favorable. No hubo infecciones, discitis ni empeoramiento de los síntomas preexistentes en ningún paciente.

Conclusión:

La foraminotomía cervical posterior es un procedimiento efectivo para el tratamiento del dolor radicular en los conflictos foraminales

Correlative study of nerve root palsy and cervical posterior decompression laminectomy and internal fixation

This study investigates the probable causes of nerve root palsy through the retrospective study of pre- and postoperative cervical curvature change for patients with cervical spondylosis and incidences of nerve root palsy. A consecutive series of 91 patients with cervical compressive myelopathy treated by laminectomy and internal fixation were reviewed. Nerve root palsy developed in 21 of 91 patients (23%) (group A). The other 70 patients, 41 men and 29 women, were chosen as controls (group B). A neutral lateral cervical spine radiograph was taken of all patients. The overall curvature of the cervical spine, the cervical curvature index, and the change rate were measured and compared.The pre- and postoperative change rate of cervical curvatures in groups A and B was 19.17+/-7.62 and 18.03+/-7.62, respectively. The difference was not statistically significant (P>.05). The pre- and postoperative cervical curvature index change rate in groups A and B was 17.52+/-3.46 and 12.43+/-4.12, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between the 2 groups (P<. 05). This indicated the cervical alignment of patients in group A was changed greatly by traction during operation.In this study, we found that tethering the nerve root caused C5 palsy, but excessive intraoperative traction and the use of internal fixation may be one of the most important reasons for this. The cervical curvature index change rate reflected both a change in cervical height and a change in the overall cervical curvature. It is more sensitive in reflecting the degree of cervical traction and the change of the cervical alignment.