title: Outcome evaluation of a zero-profile implant for anterior cervical diskectomy with fusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Supplementing anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion (ACDF) with plates     enhances stabilization, increases fusion and reduces failure rates. Zero-P     implant for stand-alone anterior interbody fusion procedures of the cervical     spine was recently developed to avoid complications associated with anterior     cervical plates. We evaluate the outcome of its use in our patients undergoing     ACDF.
  
  
  METHODS
  84 patients were selected to undergo ACDF with     Zero-P implant of whom 75 (52 male and 23 female) were followed up for 12 to 16     months (mean 14.2 months) with a total of 94 operated levels (54 single, 21     double level). Patients underwent pre- and postoperative clinical evaluation     with full neurological examination, visual analogue scale (VAS), Neck Pain and     Disability Scale (NPAD) and Bazaz-Yoo dysphagia index for postoperative     dysphagia. Postoperative plain X-ray evaluation of fusion and implant-associated     complications was done. REAULTS: All patients had significant reduction in arm     and neck pain and NPAD maintained over 12 months, no implant-associated     complications during follow-up, and radiological fusion by 3 months. None had     dysphagia after 3 months postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Zero-P implant is a     valid alternative to anterior cervical plating after ACDF with a very low     incidence of postoperative dysphagia and no implant-related complications.
authors.affiliation: Ibn Sina Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Kuwait, Kuwait. waleedazab@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Waleed
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Azab
authors.forename: Mamdouh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdel-Razek
authors.forename: Abeer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdelrahman
authors.forename: Waleed
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Salaheldin
authors.forename: Khurram
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nasim
authors.forename: Hosam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Attia
authors.forename: Doaa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Soliman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011391:Prolapse; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult