Table 3.

Changes in headache intensity (NPRS) and disability (NDI) with 95% confidence intervals for both groups and between-group differences.

Variable	Surgery	Conservative	Between-group differences
Headache intensity (NPRS 0–10)
Baseline: mean (SD)	6.2 (1.7)	5.9 (1.6)
1-Month: mean (SD)	2.1 (1.5)	4.7 (1.5)
Change Score: baseline to 1-Month	4.0 (3.7, 4.4)	1.2 (0.5, 1.9)	2.8 (2.0, 3.6); P < 0.001
3-Month: mean (SD)	2.1 (1.3)	4.4 (1.2)
Change Score: baseline to 3-Month	4.1 (3.7, 4.4)	1.5 (0.8, 2.2)	2.6 (1.8, 3.4); P < 0.001
6-Month: Mean (SD)	2.1 (1.3)	4.2 (1.1)
Change Score: Baseline to 6-Month	4.1 (3.7, 4.4)	1.7 (1.0, 2.3)	2.4 (1.6, 3.2); P < 0.001
12-Month: mean (SD)	2.4 (1.6)	3.6 (1.7)
Change Score: baseline to 12-Month	3.8 (3.4, 4.1)	2.3 (1.4, 3.1)	1.5 (0.7, 2.4); P < 0.001
Disability (NDI 0–50)
Baseline: mean (SD)	20.9 (8.2)	19.1 (8.0)
1-Month: mean (SD)	8.8 (4.6)	13.0 (7.4)
Change score: baseline to 1- Month	12.1 (10.6, 13.6)	6.1 (2.2, 10.0)	6.0 (2.4, 9.6); P = 0.001
3-Month: mean (SD)	8.3 (4.0)	13.0 (6.7)
Change score: baseline to 3- Month	12.7 (11.2, 14.1)	6.2 (2.5, 9.8)	6.5 (3.0, 10.0); P < 0.001
6-Month: mean (SD)	7.8 (3.4)	13.3 (6.1)
Change score: baseline to 6- Month	13.1 (11.8, 14.5)	5.8 (2.4, 9.2)	7.3 (4.1, 10.6); P < 0.001
12-Month: mean (SD)	7.2 (4.5)	13.5 (7.1)
Change score: baseline to 12-Month	13.7 (12.3, 15.1)	5.6 (2.2, 9.0)	8.1 (4.7, 11.5); P < 0.001

NPRS, Numeric Pain Rating Scale, 0–10, lower scores indicate less pain; NDI, Neck Disability Index, 0–50, lower scores indicate greater function.