Hard Cervical Collar Use Following Posterior Cervical Fusion

Recruiting

Impact of a Hard Cervical Collar Versus No Cervical Collar on Recovery Outcomes Following Posterior Cervical Fusion: A Prospective Study

Who can join

Ages 18 and older · All sexes

Full eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Adults aged 18 years or older
* Diagnosis of degenerative disk disease (DDD)
* Ability to provide informed consent
* Patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy, cervical deformity, or pseudoarthrosis

Exclusion Criteria:

\- Patients with trauma, tumors, or infections

About the study

Postoperative immobilization with a hard cervical collar following posterior cervical fusion remains common practice despite limited evidence demonstrating improved clinical outcomes. This is a prospective, multi-site, randomized clinical trial evaluating postoperative hard cervical collar use following posterior cervical fusion for degenerative cervical spine disease. Eligible patients will be randomized to either wear an FDA-approved hard cervical collar (Aspen Cervical Collar, Aspen Vista Cervical Collar, or Miami J Cervical Collar) for 6 weeks after surgery or receive no cervical collar. Patient-reported outcomes will be collected before surgery and at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery. The primary outcome is radiographic fusion success at 12 months. Secondary outcomes include neck disability, neck and arm pain, quality of life, patient satisfaction, wound infection, adverse events, and other postoperative complications. Radiographic fusion will be evaluated by blinded radiologists. The results of this study will help determine whether routine postoperative cervical collar use improves outcomes following posterior cervical fusion.

What is being tested

Hard Cervical Collar (device)

Sponsor: Georgetown University · Participants: 150 · Started: Jun 3, 2026

Contact the study team

Amjad Anaizi, MD · Phone: 301-856-2323

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07789288

Locations in the U.S.

District of Columbia

MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington D.C.
MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington D.C.

Conditions

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.