Use of carbon fiber cages for treatment of cervical myeloradiculopathies.
BACKGROUND
Different types of intersomatic fixation systems are available for use in the treatment of cervical disc pathologies. In this paper, we report our experience using carbon fiber cages (Brantigan I/F cage, De Puy Acromed, Raynham, MA; Mikai distrib.) for acute and chronic cervical disc pathologies.


METHODS
Between 1997 and 2001, 97 patients underwent surgical treatment for cervical disc pathologies. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 60 months. In all cases a microdiscectomy according to Caspar was performed; anterior stabilization was performed in cases with evidence of instability and in post-traumatic disc herniations.


RESULTS
A total number of 119 carbon fiber cages, ranging in height from 4 to 8 mm, were employed as well as 10 anterior plates with screws. The type of material used to fill the cages was homologous bone (50.5%), heterologous bone (22.3%), hydroxyapatite (21.1%), and autologous bone (6%). In all cases, follow-up radiograms performed after at least 6 months demonstrated bone fusion. None of the patients had either spontaneous displacement of the implant or symptoms from nerve compression.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary results suggest that anterior cervical fusion with carbon fiber cages are valid to restore intervertebral disc height and to promote bone fusion with low complications rate.
Department of Neurosurgery, San Filippo Neri Hospital, Rome, USA.
Angelo
A
Tancredi
Antonino
A
Agrillo
Roberto
R
Delfini
Dario
D
Fiume
Alessandro
A
Frati
Alessandro
A
Rinaldi
D000328:Adult; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D002244:Carbon; D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017586:Diskectomy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D013123:Spinal Fusion
D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D002244:Carbon