Utility of Cervical Collars Following Cervical Fusion Surgery. Does It Improve Fusion Rates or Outcomes? A Systematic Review

Background The use of postoperative cervical collars following cervical fusions is common practice. Its use has been purported to improve fusion rates and outcomes. There is a paucity in the strength of evidence to support its clinical benefit. Our objective is to critically evaluate the published literature to determine the strength of evidence supporting the use of postoperative cervical collar use following cervical fusions. Methods A systematic review using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (also known as PRISMA) was performed. An online search using Medline and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases was used to query prospective and retrospective clinical trials evaluating cervical fusions with or without postoperative collar. Results The search identified 894 articles in Medline and 65 articles in the Cochrane database. From these articles, 130 were selected based on procedure and collar use. Only 3 studies directly compared between collar use and no collar use. Our analysis of the mean improvement in neck disability index scores and improvement over time intervals did not show a statistically significant difference between collar versus no collar ( P  = 0.86). Conclusions We found no strong evidence to support the use of cervical collars after 1- and 2-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion procedures, and no studies comparing collar use and no collar use after posterior cervical fusions. Given the cost and likely impact of collar use on driving and the return to work, our study shows that currently there is no proven benefit to routine use of postoperative cervical collar in patients undergoing 1- and 2-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for degenerative cervical pathologies.