Comparison of Radiologic Outcomes of Different Methods in Single-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

Abstract

ObjectiveAnterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a choice of surgical procedure for cervical degenerative diseases associated with radiculopathy or myelopathy. However, the patients undergoing ACDF still have problems. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the radiologic results of 3 different methods in single-level ACDF.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective collection of radiological data from January 2011 to December 2014. A total of 67 patients were included in this study. The patients were divided into 3 groups by operation procedure: using stand-alone cage (group cage, n=20); polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK)-titanium combined anchored cage (group AC, n=21); and anterior cervical cage-plate (group CP, n=26). Global cervical lordosis (C2-C7 Cobb angle), fused segment height, fusion rate, and cervical range of motion (ROM) were measured and analyzed at serial preoperative, postoperative, 6-month, and final 1-year follow-up.ResultsSuccessful bone fusion was achieved in all patients at the final follow-up examination; however, the loss of disc height over 3 mm at the surgical level was observed in 6 patients in group cage. Groups AC and CP yielded significantly better outcomes than group cage in fused segment height and cervical ROM(p=0.01 and p=0.02, respectively). Furthermore, group AC had similar radiologic outcomes to those of group CP.ConclusionThe PEEK-titanium combined anchored cage may be a good alternative procedure in terms of reducing complications induced by plate after ACDF.

Single-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Interbody Fusion: A Comparison between Porous Tantalum and Polyetheretherketone Cages

“…The choice of the kind of cervical cage used in ACDF depends on a number of factors. We found scarce literature performing comparisons between different kinds of stand-alone cages [ 12 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]. In the present study, we compared two groups of patients who underwent surgery in two spine surgery centers for cervical disc herniation with implantation either of a porous tantalum cage or of a PEEK cage.…”

Radiological and Clinical Outcomes of Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion in Older Patients: A Comparative Analysis of Young-Old Patients (Ages 65–74 Years) and Middle-Old Patients (Over 75 Years)

“…Second, there is a report that radiologic outcome varies according to cage type, the subsidence according to the cage type was not accurately compared in this study. 32 The need to use cages in accordance with patient specificity also limited our study; we believe that large scale and multi-institutional studies will help overcome this limitation. Third, the mean F/U period was too short to evaluate the long-term efficacy of the procedure.…”

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Cervical Anterior Fusion and Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement in the Korean Medical System

“…The pain and dysfunction that may be caused by cervical nerve compression can be conservatively treated with anti-inflammatory drugs and physical therapy or injection. If pain or dysfunction continues despite these conservative treatments, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) may be performed [4,8]. ACDF shows a high recovery rate of over 90% for patients with radiculopathy and myelopathy [2].…”