Postoperative bracing after cervical spine surgery is common, but the type and length of brace usage varies significantly among surgeons. According to an article in The Spine Journal, surgeons should reconsider using braces after certain surgeries.
Here are three things to know.
1. Members of the Cervical Spine Research Society received a 10-question survey to assess routine bracing practices after several common degenerative cervical spine surgical scenarios, including fusion and non-fusion procedures.
2. Overall, 67 percent of the respondents used bracing after degenerative cervical spine procedures: 8.4 percent used a hard collar, 22 percent never used a hard collar, 34 percent never used a soft collar and 3.6 percent did not use a brace in any surgical situation.
3. After single-level corpectomy, 77 percent of respondents braced for an average of 6.2 weeks. After laminectomy and fusion, 72 percent braced for an average of 5.4 weeks.
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