title: Surgery for postarthrodesis adjacent-cervical segment degeneration.
abstract: Anterior cervical decompression and fusion has gained popularity because of its applicability to a variety of cervical spine disorders. The authors of long-term follow-up studies have demonstrated the development of degenerative changes in segments adjacent to fusion. So-called adjacent-segment disease causes symptomatic deterioration in up to 25% of the patients who have undergone anterior cervical decompression and fusion for cervical spondylotic myelopathy. The causes of this condition are debated in the literature. The authors provide a review of the available literature on the pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of postarthrodesis adjacent-segment degenerative disease.
authors.affiliation: Neurological Institute of New Jersey, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey 07103, USA. hooman az@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Hooman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Azmi
authors.forename: Richard P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Schlenk
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D017586:Diskectomy; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D007796:Laminectomy; D015993:Life Tables; D008875:Middle Aged; D009038:Motion; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery