Clinical efficacy of duloxetine in the treatment of axial symptoms after posterior cervical spine surgery: a retrospective study

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of duloxetine in the treatment of patients with axial symptoms after posterior cervical spine surgery. METHODS: Patients with axial symptoms after posterior cervical spine surgery treated by duloxetine or non-drug therapy from 2018 to 2021 were reviewed. Duloxetine was administered gradually, with oral administration of 30 mg in the first week and oral administration of 60 mg from the second week. Visual analogue scale (VAS), 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey questionnaire (SF-36) and EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) questionnaire were used to evaluate the severity of AS at baseline and 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after medication. The occurrence of adverse reactions was recorded. RESULTS: A total of 63 eligible patients who received duloxetine therapy (n = 35) or non-drug therapy (n = 28) were included. All patients were followed up for 6 months. Significant improvements were found in VAS score compared with baseline in both groups (1.87 ± 0.81 vs 6.61 ± 1.16, 3.18 ± 0.67 vs 6.31 ± 1.40; P < 0.05 for all). Meanwhile, the VAS score of the duloxetine group was significantly better than that of the non-drug therapy group at 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months (P < 0.05). Besides, according to 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey questionnaire (SF-36), the PCS score and MCS score are significantly higher than before the treatment in duloxetine group (PCS 62.82 ± 6.04 vs 44.36 ± 7.25, MCS 65.50 ± 4.53 vs 55.55 ± 6.06; P < 0.05 for all). And when we compared variables between the two groups, the PCS score of the duloxetine group was significantly better than that of the non-drug therapy group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in MCS score between the two groups (P > 0.05). What’s more, EQ-5D score had significant improvements in the duloxetine group compared with the non-drug therapy group at 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Oral duloxetine has a better short-term outcome than conventional non-drug therapy in patients with axial symptoms following posterior decompression surgery in the cervical spine.