Fusion rate of anterior cervical plating after corpectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the neurological recovery and fusion rate of patients with myelopathy who were treated with anterior corpectomy and anterior cervical plating.


METHODS
The results of 17 cervical myelopathy patients who underwent decompression and anterior cervical plating were retrospectively reviewed at a mean follow-up of 2 years.


RESULTS
By Kurokawa score, 82.4% of patients showed excellent-to-good results. The fusion rates of 2-level and 3-level anterior cervical corpectomy, and of anterior plate fixation were 100%. There were no implant- or graft-related complications. Transient dysphagia in 9 (52.9%) patients resolved after a mean of 3 months (range, 1-9 months).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of anterior cervical plating after anterior corpectomy and fusion with autologous bone graft greatly enhances arthrodesis. The improved fusion rate and low complication rate associated with anterior cervical plating may justify its use in the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy.
Cheng
N S
NS
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong. hongkongharmonica@yahoo.com.hk
Lau
P Y
PY
Sun
L K
LK
Wong
N M
NM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001860:Bone Plates; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome