Efficacy of Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Female Patients with Hirayama Disease

Abstract

To compare the preoperative and postoperative hand function and radiographic parameters in female patients with HD. Consecutive female patients with HD undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion were followed-up. The postoperative hand functional data were obtained from the last follow-up, while the postoperative radiographic data were obtained from the examinations in 3- or 6-month follow-up after surgical treatments. The preoperative and postoperative data of hand functional and radiographic assessments were collected and compared between them. Logistic regression analysis was used to clear potential risk factors for surgical treatment. In all, 15 female patients with HD were included in the follow-up study over 9 years. Significant differences were found in total scores (P<0.001) and all five dimensions, including function (P=0.003), activities of daily life (P=0.002), work (P=0.003), satisfaction (P=0.002), appearance (P=0.005), and HD-specific hand symptoms (P=0.001) in hand functional assessment. The comparison of C2-7 Cobb angle was statistically different (P=0.042) in radiographic assessments. The course of illness was of marginal significance (P=0.065) with curative effect of surgical treatment in logistic regression analysis. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion was an effective way to treat female patients with HD, and the course of illness may be correlated with the efficacy of surgery. For some female patients with HD with a clear diagnosis, early surgical treatment is worthy of clinical consideration.