title: Complications of multilevel cervical corpectomies and reconstruction with titanium cages and anterior plating.
abstract: The ideal surgical treatment of multilevel cervical spondylosis remains unclear. This study analyzed the complications in using titanium cages and plating to reconstruct multilevel cervical corpectomies. This was a retrospective analysis of 21 consecutive patients who had multilevel cervical corpectomies and reconstruction with titanium cages and anterior plating. Sixteen had 2-level, one had 2.5-level, three had 3-level, and one had 3.5-level corpectomies. All had reconstruction with titanium cages and anterior plating. Thirty-three percent of the patients developed complications. Radiographs revealed bony consolidation in 95% of patients. Reconstructing multilevel cervical corpectomies with titanium cages and plating is associated with complications. Advantages include rigid immobilization and the avoidance of iliac crest bone graft harvesting. Major complications are largely the result of failures of the cage and plate construct, especially in patients with osteopenic bone. Supplemental posterior stabilization may be considered for cases with spasticity or greater than 2-level corpectomies with profound osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Spine Surgery PSC, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, USA.
authors.forename: Hwan T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Hee
authors.forename: Mohammad E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Majd
authors.forename: Richard T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: Thomas S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Whitecloud
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pienkowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D011859:Radiography; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014025:Titanium; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014025:Titanium