ReviewJournal of pain research2025
Postoperative Rehabilitation for Pain and Functional Recovery Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Narrative Review.
Review in Journal of pain research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Level-dependent changes in cervical multifidus composition following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: bridging quantitative MRI and clinical perspectives.Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery · 2026Article
- Depression and psychotic disorders worsen perioperative outcomes and increase resource utilization after multilevel lumbar fusion: Implications for screening and perioperative care.Journal of craniovertebral junction & spineArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Patients with cervical myelopathy, radiculopathy, and myeloradiculopathy often experience neck and arm pain, neurological impairments, and functional limitations that significantly affect their quality of life. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is the most commonly performed surgical procedure to address these conditions. In clinical practice, postoperative rehabilitation is widely recommended following ACDF to enhance recovery. However, the effectiveness of rehabilitation after ACDF remains inconclusive. This review aims to evaluate the efficacy of exercise-based rehabilitation programs after ACDF. We conducted a systematic search of articles concerning rehabilitation after ACDF, published through July 16, 2025. Our inclusion criteria focused on studies examining the effects of postoperative rehabilitation programs following ACDF. Our search identified 753 articles. After screening titles and abstracts, 729 articles that did not fulfill the inclusion criteria were excluded. The remaining 24 articles were further assessed for eligibility, and ultimately, 9 studies were included in this review. Early studies reported limited additional benefits from basic physiotherapy compared to usual postoperative care. However, recent studies employing structured, phase-based rehabilitation programs-including cervical muscle strengthening, postural correction, and home-based exercises-demonstrated significant improvements in pain, disability, and functional outcomes. Rehabilitation programs initiated within 6 weeks after surgery, particularly within the first week, were associated with improved recovery without increased complications. Additionally, nutritional support (eg, vitamin D supplementation) and patient-centered delivery approaches, such as home exercises combined with telephone support, further enhanced outcomes. Rehabilitation programs following ACDF have evolved to become increasingly systematic and comprehensive. Growing evidence supports the beneficial effects of rehabilitation after ACDF. Early structured rehabilitation programs appear to play a crucial role in reducing pain, improving functional outcomes, and enhancing postoperative recovery. Further research is required to better understand the effects of postoperative rehabilitation following ACDF.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.