title: Interbody fusion of the lower cervical spine: a dangerous surgical method?
abstract: Our follow-up study of 175 cases of interbody fusion of the lower cervical spine was conducted to show the complications that occurred in our department with what is considered to be a tried and tested method. From 1976 to 1990, 175 patients were treated with this method. These 175 cases included 150 fractures and/or dislocations. The indications for surgery in the remaining 25 cases were tumors and metastases, inflammatory or degenerative diseases and chronic instabilities following laminectomy. The following complications were seen: 4 cases of infection, 3 postoperative redislocations, 2 cases of extensive loosening of metal, 1 unilateral lesion of the vertebral artery, 1 nonunion with plate fracture, 1 post-operative radicular disorder in an otherwise neurologically normal patients, and 1 secondary extension of the interbody fusion required after failure to recognize a two-segment lesion.
authors.affiliation: University Clinic of Surgery, Department of Traumatology, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schweighofer
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Passler
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wildburger
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Hofer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology