Virtual reality-based training to augment recovery of hand dexterity after surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy
Abstract Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM), the leading cause of non-traumatic spinal cord injury, frequently results in impaired hand dexterity. While surgical decompression is the primary treatment, over 40% of patients report residual hand disability after surgery. There are no therapies to...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05793-5 |
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| author | Viprav B. Raju Roxanne Hauer Mohammad Ghassemi Anjishnu Banerjee Derek Kamper Brian D. Schmit Aditya Vedantam |
| author_facet | Viprav B. Raju Roxanne Hauer Mohammad Ghassemi Anjishnu Banerjee Derek Kamper Brian D. Schmit Aditya Vedantam |
| author_sort | Viprav B. Raju |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM), the leading cause of non-traumatic spinal cord injury, frequently results in impaired hand dexterity. While surgical decompression is the primary treatment, over 40% of patients report residual hand disability after surgery. There are no therapies to restore hand function after surgery for DCM. In this single-arm clinical trial, post-surgical DCM participants (within 12 months after surgery) underwent a 4-week VR training protocol using the Virtual Keyboard system, which promotes practice of finger individuation. Assessments of hand dexterity were performed at baseline (at week 1), post-training (at week 6) and follow-up (at week 10). The primary outcome measure for hand dexterity assessment was the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT). Twenty-two post-surgical DCM participants were included in the final analysis. Statistically significant improvement in the JTHFT was observed at both post-training (p < 0.001, Δ= -15.21s) and follow-up (p < 0.001, Δ= -17.84s), with changes exceeding the Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) at both time points. VR hand training also produced significant, sustained and clinically meaningful improvements in quantitative hand dexterity tests and health-related quality of life. The results of this uncontrolled, single-arm study demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of targeted neurorehabilitation to augment post-surgical neurological recovery in people with DCM. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8e1af59d8b4c4b0ca1af68684b151d41 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-8e1af59d8b4c4b0ca1af68684b151d412025-08-20T03:03:40ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-05793-5Virtual reality-based training to augment recovery of hand dexterity after surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathyViprav B. Raju0Roxanne Hauer1Mohammad Ghassemi2Anjishnu Banerjee3Derek Kamper4Brian D. Schmit5Aditya Vedantam6Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of WisconsinJoint Department of Biomedical Engineering, Marquette University- Medical College of WisconsinJoint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University – University of North Carolina at Chapel HillDepartment of Biostatistics, Medical College of WisconsinJoint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University – University of North Carolina at Chapel HillJoint Department of Biomedical Engineering, Marquette University- Medical College of WisconsinDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical College of WisconsinAbstract Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM), the leading cause of non-traumatic spinal cord injury, frequently results in impaired hand dexterity. While surgical decompression is the primary treatment, over 40% of patients report residual hand disability after surgery. There are no therapies to restore hand function after surgery for DCM. In this single-arm clinical trial, post-surgical DCM participants (within 12 months after surgery) underwent a 4-week VR training protocol using the Virtual Keyboard system, which promotes practice of finger individuation. Assessments of hand dexterity were performed at baseline (at week 1), post-training (at week 6) and follow-up (at week 10). The primary outcome measure for hand dexterity assessment was the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT). Twenty-two post-surgical DCM participants were included in the final analysis. Statistically significant improvement in the JTHFT was observed at both post-training (p < 0.001, Δ= -15.21s) and follow-up (p < 0.001, Δ= -17.84s), with changes exceeding the Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) at both time points. VR hand training also produced significant, sustained and clinically meaningful improvements in quantitative hand dexterity tests and health-related quality of life. The results of this uncontrolled, single-arm study demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of targeted neurorehabilitation to augment post-surgical neurological recovery in people with DCM.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05793-5Degenerative cervical myelopathyVirtual realityHand dexterityPost-Surgical rehabilitation |
| spellingShingle | Viprav B. Raju Roxanne Hauer Mohammad Ghassemi Anjishnu Banerjee Derek Kamper Brian D. Schmit Aditya Vedantam Virtual reality-based training to augment recovery of hand dexterity after surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy Scientific Reports Degenerative cervical myelopathy Virtual reality Hand dexterity Post-Surgical rehabilitation |
| title | Virtual reality-based training to augment recovery of hand dexterity after surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy |
| title_full | Virtual reality-based training to augment recovery of hand dexterity after surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy |
| title_fullStr | Virtual reality-based training to augment recovery of hand dexterity after surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Virtual reality-based training to augment recovery of hand dexterity after surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy |
| title_short | Virtual reality-based training to augment recovery of hand dexterity after surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy |
| title_sort | virtual reality based training to augment recovery of hand dexterity after surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy |
| topic | Degenerative cervical myelopathy Virtual reality Hand dexterity Post-Surgical rehabilitation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05793-5 |
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