title: Polyetheretherketone cages alone with allograft for three-level anterior cervical fusion.
abstract: A total of 25 consecutive patients suffering from degenerative cervical disc disease who underwent three-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) including polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages packed with allograft were followed up for at least two years. The fusion rate reached 72% (18/25), and asymptomatic pseudarthrosis was seen in 6 patients but without mobility on flexion-extension radiographs, and revision surgery was not needed. Cage subsidence occurred at one level (C67), but it was not progressive, and reoperation was not necessary. A significant increase (P < 0.001) in fused segment angle (FSA) and fused segment height (FSH) was observed postoperatively. Similarly, a significant clinical improvement (P < 0.001) was demonstrated postoperatively in terms of Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score and visual analog scales (VASs) score. PEEK cages alone with allograft proved to be a safe and effective surgical option in the treatment of three-level degenerative cervical disc disease. Although the fusion rate was not high, this technique may offer improvement of symptomatology and maintenance of cervical spine's sagittal profile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Avraam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ploumis
authors.forename: Chunde
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li