The Neck Disability Index (NDI) is widely used as a self-rated disability score in patients with cervical radiculopathy and cervical spine disorders with good responsiveness and psychometric properties compared with general health status measures. However, NDI scores are unitless and do not have an intrinsic value that is comparable to other health status measures, and these scores have limited value in cost-utility analysis.

Neck Disability Index

Bladder function and QoL domains of the JOACMEQ appear to demonstrate the strongest postoperative responsiveness and thus may be more appropriate than NDI when attempting to determine treatment efficacy in Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.

Correlations between NDI and SF-6D utility scores are strong and statistically significant. The model has a large R(2) and small RMSE. The prediction models produce a small mean prediction error, but the SD of the prediction errors is large. High correlations between NDI and SF-6D permit these models to be used to calculate overall utilities, changes in utilities, and quality-adjusted life-years for large data samples. However, the relatively large observed prediction error SDs may limit the accuracy of translation of individual data points or small sample sizes ¹⁾.

NDI correlated significantly with a different quality of life and mental health measures among patients with single-level cervical disc disease and corresponding radiculopathy ²⁾.