title: Single level cervical fusion by an anterior approach using autologous bone graft influences the adjacent levels degenerative changes: clinical and radiographic results at 10-year minimum follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cervical degenerative pathology can produce pain and disability and, in case of failure of conservative treatment surgery is indicated.
  
  
  METHODS
  107 patients affected by single level cervical degenerative pathology were surgically treated by Cloward procedure. On radiographs, the sagittal segmental alignment (SSA) of the affected level and sagittal alignment of the cervical spine were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preoperatively, mean SSA was 0.6° and at the last follow-up 1.8°. In particular, adjacent-level degeneration occurred more frequently in Group A than in Group B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lordotic SSA angle can be considered a protective factor against adjacent-level degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, University of Bologna, Via Pupilli 1, 40136 Bologna, Italy. cesare.faldini@ior.it
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Faldini
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Miscione
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Acri
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leonetti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nanni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chehrassan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giannini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008141:Lordosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome