Reoperation in patients after anterior cervical plate stabilization in degenerative disease.
METHODS
Consecutive case retrospective chart review.


OBJECTIVE
First, to assess whether the number of' patients requiring a second cervical surgical intervention was changed as a result of using anterior cervical plate stabilization, and second, to determine the additional risks and/or benefits associated with the hardware implantation.


BACKGROUND
The optimal technique of performing stabilization, arthrodesis, and alignment of a cervical segment after discectomy with neural decompression in degenerative disease has yet to be determined.


METHODS
The charts of 402 patients who had undergone an anterior cervical discectomy and arthrodesis for degenerative disease performed both with and without anterior cervical plate stabilization were reviewed, and reoperation data were compiled. The average follow-up time was 3.8 years (range, 1.5-9.4 years).


RESULTS
Of 365 patients with 1- or 2-level cervical arthrodesis, 22 required a second surgical intervention (20 bone alone, 2 with anterior cervical plate stabilization). The Log-Rank test, which uses all patients and their total follow-up periods, was statistically significant favoring anterior cervical plate stabilization at one and two levels (P = 0.015).


CONCLUSIONS
The addition of anterior cervical plate stabilization in one- and two-level cervical degenerative disease supplements the internal stabilization initially provided by the bone graft, and yields a lower reoperation rate.
Geisler
F H
FH
Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch, Illinois, USA.
Caspar
W
W
Pitzen
T
T
Johnson
T A
TA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017586:Diskectomy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D016896:Treatment Outcome