Effectiveness of a Digital Therapy System for Rehabilitation Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

Abstract

Abstract Objective: This investigation purposed to assess the effectiveness of an innovative digital therapy system in improving neck pain, quality of life, and function in patients outcomes among individuals post Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) surgery. Method: The system integrates computer vision exercise, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and sensor-based posture monitoring system to provide a comprehensive intervention program. A total of 105 post-ACDF patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to three treatment groups: Digital Therapy Group (DTG), Hospital Rehabilitation Group (HRG), and Conventional Treatment Group (CTG). A comprehensive evaluation was conducted before surgery, at 12 weeks, and 24 weeks post-surgery. The assessments included Cervical Spine Mobility, Muscle Endurance Testing, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), SF-36 Mental Component Summary (SF-36 MCS), and Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ). Results: The study found that both the DTG and the HRG showed significant improvements in cervical mobility, muscle endurance, pain reduction, and mental health, with no significant differences between the two groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The digital therapy system effectively improves neck pain, NDI score, cervical spine function, and mental health. Its efficacy is comparable to hospital rehabilitation and superior to conventional therapy methods.