title: Three-level and four-level anterior cervical discectomies and titanium cage-augmented fusion with and without plate fixation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cage-assisted anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) has proven to be a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of one- and two-level degenerative disc disease (DDD). To the authors' knowledge, clinical results after three- and four-level interbody cage-augmented ACDF have not been reported in the literature. The authors investigated the safety and effectiveness of titanium cages used in such procedures and evaluated the results in cases with or without plate fixation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six patients suffering from cervical DDD were divided into two groups. Group 1 included 32 patients who underwent titanium cage-assisted ACDF; Group 2 included 24 patients who underwent the same procedure, supplemented with plate fixation. The cervical DDD was confirmed by radiography and magnetic resonance imaging. The patients underwent radiographic evaluation to assess cervical lordosis, segmental height of cervical spine, the height of the foramina, and spinal stability. Neurological outcomes were assessed using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores. Neck pain was graded using a 10-point visual analog scale (VAS). The follow-up period ranged from 13 to 28 months (mean 17.2 months). In both Groups 1 and 2 significant increase (p < 0.001) was demonstrated in the JOA scores (preoperatively 10.7 +/- 2.4 and 11.1 +/- 2, postoperatively 13.9 +/- 2.2 and 14.1 +/- 2.3, respectively) and VAS pain scores (preoperatively 8.8 +/- 0.9 and 8.5 +/- 1, postoperatively 3.1 +/- 2.1 and 2.8 +/- 1.8, respectively); however, there was no significant intergroup difference. A significant increase in the cervical lordosis, foraminal height, and segmental height was observed in both groups. Good stability of cage fusion was obtained in both groups 12 months postoperatively (90.6% in Group 1 and 91.7% in Group 2); however, there were no statistically significant intergroup differences. The complication rate in Group 2 was higher than that in Group 1. The hospital length of stay in Group 1 was significantly lower than in Group 2 (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Analysis of these findings demonstrated that titanium cage-assisted ACDF provided long-term stabilization, increased lordosis, increased segmental height, and increased foraminal height. In both groups good neurological outcomes were achieved and donor site morbidity was avoided. The lower complication rate and shorter hospital stay, however, make the cage-assisted fusion without plate fixation better than with plate fixation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shiuh-Lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Chih-Lung
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ann-Shung
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lieu
authors.forename: Kung-Shing
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tai-Hung
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Yan-Fen
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Yu-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Shen-Long
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Howng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001860:Bone Plates; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007902:Length of Stay; D008141:Lordosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000601:surgery; D009984:Orthopedic Fixation Devices; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014025:Titanium; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014025:Titanium