BackgroundTitanium (TTN) cages have a higher modulus of elasticity when compared with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages. This suggests that TTN-cages could show more frequent cage subsidence after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and therefore might lead to a higher loss of correction. We compared the long term results of stand-alone PEEK- and TTN-cages in a comparable patient collective that was operated under identical operative settings.MethodsFrom 2002 to 2007 154 patients underwent single-level ACDF for degenerative disc disease (DDD). Clinical and radiological outcome were assessed in 86 eligible patients after a mean of 28.4 months. 44 patients received a TTN- and 42 patients a PEEK-cage.ResultsSolid arthrodesis was found in 93.2% of the TTN-group and 88.1% of the PEEK-group. Cage subsidence was observed in 20.5% of the TTN- and 14.3% of the PEEK-group. A significant segmental lordotic correction was achieved by both cage-types. Even though a loss of correction was found at the last follow-up in both groups, it did not reach the level of statistical significance. Statistical analysis of these results revealed no differences between the TTN- and PEEK-group.When assessed with the neck disability index (NDI), the visual analogue scale (VAS) of neck and arm pain and Odom’s criteria the clinical data showed no significant differences between the groups.ConclusionsClinical and radiological outcomes of ACDF with TTN- or PEEK-cages do not appear to be influenced by the chosen synthetic graft. The modulus of elasticity represents only one of many physical properties of a cage. Design, shape, size, surface architecture of a cage as well as bone density, endplate preparation and applied distraction during surgery need to be considered as further important factors.
In posterior lumbar interbody fusion, cage migrations and lower fusion rates compared to autologous bone graft used in the anterior lumbar interbody fusion procedure are documented. Anatomical and biomechanical data have shown that the cage positioning and cage type seem to play an important role. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of cage positioning and cage type on cage migration and fusion. We created a grid system for the endplates to analyze different cage positions. To analyze the influence of the cage type, we compared ''closed'' box titanium cages with ''open'' box titanium cages. This study included 40 patients with 80 implanted cages. After pedicle screw fixation, 23 patients were treated with a ''closed box'' cage and 17 patients with an ''open box'' cage. The follow-up period averaged 25 months. Twenty cages (25%) showed a migration into one vertebral endplate of \3 mm and four cages (5%) showed a migration of C3 mm. Cage migration was highest in the medio-medial position (84.6%), followed by the postero-lateral (42.9%), and the postero-medial (16%) cage position. Closed box cages had a significantly higher migration rate than open box cages, but fusion rates did not differ. In conclusion, cage positioning and cage type influence cage migration. The medio-medial cage position showed the highest migration rate. Regarding the cage type, open box cages seem to be associated with lower migration rates compared to closed box cages. However, the cage type did not influence bone fusion.
Impaired cerebral perfusion contributes to evolving posttraumatic tissue damage. Spontaneous reversibility of reduced perfusion within the first days after injury could make a persisting impact on secondary tissue damage less likely and needs to be considered for possible therapeutic approaches. The present study was designed to characterize the temporal profile and impact of trauma severity on cortical perfusion and microcirculation during the first 48 h after controlled cortical impact injury (CCI). In 10 rats, pericontusional cortical perfusion and microcirculation using laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) and orthogonal polarization spectral (OPS) imaging were assessed before, and at 4, 24, and 48 h after CCI. Influence of trauma severity was studied by varying the penetration depth of the impactor rod (0.5 vs. 1 mm), thereby inducing a less and a more severe contusion. Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), arterial blood gases, and blood glucose were monitored. With unchanged MABP and paCO2, cortical perfusion and microcirculation were significantly impaired during the first 48 h following CCI. Hypoperfusion observed at 4 h related to vasoconstriction and microcirculatory stasis preceded a long-lasting phase of hyperperfusion at 24 and 48 h reflected by vasodilation and increased flow velocity in arterioles and venules. Hyperperfusion was mostly pronounced in rats with a less severe contusion. Following CCI, trauma severity markedly influences changes in pericontusional cortical perfusion and microcirculation. Overall, pericontusional cortical hypoperfusion observed within the early phase preceded a long lasting phase of hyperperfusion up to 48 h after CCI.
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