Factors associated with favourable short-term non-operative treatment outcomes among patients with degenerative cervical spine disease at Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute

Background: Non-operative treatment of cervical degenerative spine disease involves pharmacotherapy and physical therapy. Favorable Short-term treatment outcomes include pain reduction and sensory-motor recovery, with an eventual return to normal daily activities as a longterm outcome. Several factors have been attributed to early pain relief and sensorimotor recovery; these include early diagnosis and combined therapy. Objective: This prospective study was carried out from June to December 2022 and was carried out to determine factors associated with favourable short-term treatment outcomes among patients with degenerative cervical spine disease treated non-operatively at Muhimbili Orthopaedics Institute (MOI). Methods: This prospective study involved 78 individuals diagnosed with chronic degenerative cervical spine disease, undergoing six weeks of non-operative treatment. Patient data, including gender, age, occupation, and symptoms, were collected via a questionnaire. Disease severity and treatment outcome were assessed using the Copenhagen Neck Functional Disability Scale (CNFDS) and the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale (mJOA). Results: Out of 78 patients, most were female (71.79%) and over 60 years old. Axial neck pain and radiculopathy were common clinical presentations, with moderate severity at presentation predominating. Combined therapy was frequently used and showed better pain reduction than pharmacotherapy alone (p = 0.002) also initial disease severity significantly influenced pain reduction (p = 0.02). Conclusion: The study findings indicate that non-surgical treatments at MOI can notably alleviate initial pain in degenerative cervical spine disease patients, with initial severity significantly influencing short-term outcomes. However, sensorimotor improvements from non-operative methods were insufficient, warranting additional research for validation.