title: [Adjacent segment mobility after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the mobility changes of adjacent segments after fusion retrospectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 28 patients underwent standard anterior cervical arthrodesis. The kinematic changes occurred at segments adjacent to cervical arthrodesis through a coral bone graft and plating system. The mean follow-up period was 6.3 ± 1.6 years (3.6 - 10.5). Lateral radiographic views of cervical spine in flexion and extension were obtained at pre-operation and follow-up. Rotational motion at adjacent levels was quantified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sagittal range of motion (ROM) at adjacent cranial level was 11.2° ± 5.0° at pre-operation and 11.4° ± 6.4° at follow-up. It was not statistically significant (P > 0.01). At adjacent caudal level, ROM was 9.8° ± 5.3°, but 10.2° ± 4.6° at follow-up. But it was not statistically significant (P > 0.01). During the follow-up, entire cervical motion (C2-C7) decreased significantly from 46.8° ± 13.4° to 36.8° ± 9.6° in single-level fusion group, but from 48.6° ± 14.6° to 39.9° ± 7.2° in double-level fusion group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The assumption of an iatrogenically elevated adjacent level mobility by cervical fusion is refuted by the present study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing 100035, China.
authors.forename: Yong-gang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D017586:Diskectomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013123:Spinal Fusion