The efficacy of virtual reality technology for the postoperative rehabilitation of patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM): a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

This study explores using virtual reality (VR) to help patients recover after surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), a condition where the spinal cord is compressed in the neck. VR technology might help improve movement and sensation after surgery. The study will involve 78 patients who will be randomly assigned to either a conventional rehabilitation program or a program that combines conventional rehabilitation with VR. Researchers will use various scales and fMRI to measure the effectiveness of the VR intervention. The goal is to see if VR training can improve recovery after CSM surgery, potentially offering a new option for rehabilitation. The researchers also aim to understand how VR affects the brain and promotes brain plasticity in these patients.

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  The primary outcome will be measured with the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) cervical myelopathy evaluation scale.
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  The secondary measures will include the visual analogue scale (VAS), neck disability index (NDI), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans.
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  The aim of this trial is to investigate the effect of VR training on the postoperative rehabilitation of patients with CSM after 12 intervention treatments.