Incidence and risk factors of C5 palsy following posterior cervical decompression: a systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

C5 palsy is a serious but poorly understood complication after posterior cervical decompression that could lead to muscle weakness, brachialgia and numbness of the upper limbs. The incidence of C5 palsy varies greatly between studies. The risk factors are inconclusive and even conflicting.

Object

To perform a systematic review on the incidence and risk factors of C5 palsy after posterior cervical decompression.

Materials and methods

Four databases, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane CENTRAL, were searched to identify eligible studies. Either a fixed- or a random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled odd ratio (RR) or standardized mean difference (SMD) with its 95% confidence interval (95%CI).

Results

Of the 589 pre-recruited studies

SUBMITTER: Gu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4146468 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature