Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the mid-term results of an in-patient conservative therapy regimen for discogenic cervicobrachialgia.
Methods: A retrospective follow-up of 100 patients after an average of 4.01 years with clinical examination and a questionnaire was performed.
Results: The subjective outcome rating for pain on a scale from 0 (pain-free) to 10 (maximum imaginable pain) was reduced from 7.91 at beginning of the therapy to 3.19 at the end of the therapy and to 1.5 at follow-up (p < 0.005). Duration of pain, reductions of motion and palsy improved significantly. The patients' appraisal of required surgical therapy could be reduced from 26 % at beginning to 2 % at the end of the therapy.
Conclusion: The intensive conservative in-patient treatment for discogenic cervicobrachialgia shows a high satisfaction of the treated patients even after a follow-up of four years. The natural course of the disease shows a rapid and stable remission after wearing off the acute or subacute complaints.