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Cervical Radiculopathy in the Athlete.
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.
Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy Review
|May 28, 2026
Summary
Recent advancements in treating cervical spine disease in athletes offer new treatment paradigms. Surgical interventions like anterior cervical discectomy and fusion or cervical disc arthroplasty show high return-to-play rates for athletes.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Sports Medicine
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Cervical spine disease presents unique challenges for athletes.
- Optimizing return to play (RTP) and minimizing complications are key treatment goals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current treatment paradigms for cervical spine disease in athletes.
- To compare operative and nonoperative management strategies.
- To evaluate surgical options for optimizing outcomes and RTP.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent advancements in cervical spine disease treatment for athletes.
- Analysis of operative (anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, cervical disc arthroplasty) and nonoperative approaches.
- Assessment of return-to-play rates and complication profiles.
Main Results:
- Conservative management is effective for many athletes.
- Early surgical intervention may benefit high-level athletes with persistent symptoms.
- Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion and cervical disc arthroplasty demonstrate high RTP rates.
- Cervical disc arthroplasty may offer advantages in motion preservation and reduced adjacent segment degeneration.
Conclusions:
- Treatment for cervical spine disease in athletes requires individualized approaches.
- Long-term outcomes and specific RTP guidelines require further investigation.
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