Titanium cage reconstruction after cervical corpectomy.
OBJECTIVE
The authors evaluated the efficacy of titanium cage- and anterior cervical plate (ACP)-augmented fusion for reconstruction following decompressive cervical corpectomy in nontraumatic disease.


METHODS
Forty-five patients ranging from 37 to 77 years of age underwent anterior cervical corpectomy followed by titanium cage-assisted reconstruction in which the cages were filled with autologous bone obtained from the resected vertebral bodies (VBs). Plates were placed in all patients. Follow-up radiographic evaluation included computerized tomography scanning and plain flexion-extension radiography. Fusion was demonstrated in all but one patient without reconstruction-related complications. The single complication involved an endplate VB fracture with pistoning of the cage into the VB. The mean follow-up period was 12.9 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Autologous corpectomy bone-filled titanium cages supplemented with ACPs are an effective means of reconstruction after compressive cervical corpectomy. This technique provides a reasonable alternative to procedures involving long solid strut grafts obtained from the bone bank or from the patient.
Dorai
Zeena
Z
Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-8855, USA. zdorai@excite.com
Morgan
Howard
H
Coimbra
Caetano
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009984:Orthopedic Fixation Devices; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D014025:Titanium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014025:Titanium