OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this paper is to determine whether standard spa treatment significantly affects disability, functional status, and quality of life of patients after surgery of intervertebral discs in the cervical spine.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

The study was performed in patients who underwent an artificial intervertebral disc replacement in the cervical spine.The study involved a group of 88 patients with mean age of 49.49 (range 32 to 74, standard deviation 9.12) while the experimental group consisted of 40 patients who underwent spa treatment with mean age of 49.35 (range 32 to 72, standard deviation 7.69). The control group was not treated by spa treatment, and consisted of 48 patients with mean age of 49.6 (range 36 to 74, standard deviation 8.73). These patients underwent standard medical rehabilitation at rehabilitation departments.Dysfunction of the cervical spine was scaled according to The Neck Disability Index (NDI). Functional status of patients was evaluated by Pulses Profile, and quality of life was evaluated by test of the quality of life according to Spitzer.

RESULTS:

The statistical evaluation parameter for NDI, Pulses and Spitzer found significant difference at the significance level of 0.01, suggesting that experimental group of patients who received spa treatment during follow-up examination had significantly better results in comparison with the control group.

CONCLUSION:

As a result of this study we have concluded that after implantation of the artificial intervertebral disc replacement in the cervical spine it is appropriate to recommend spa treatment for its positive effect on disability, functional status, and quality of life (Tab. 3, Fig. 3, Ref. 24).