title: Stand-alone anchored spacer versus anterior plate for multilevel anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes and radiological changes of 3- and 4-level anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion with stand-alone anchored spacers and with traditional anterior plates. A total of 51 consecutive patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy who underwent 3- or 4-level anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion were divided into 2 groups: group A (n=23) received anchored spacers and group B (n=28) received an anterior plate. Mean follow-up was 14.6 months. Solid fusion was achieved in all patients at final follow-up. No significant difference existed between multilevel anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion with stand-alone anchored implants and with an anterior cervical plate in achieving clinical symptomatic improvement, fusion rate, and lordotic curvature improvement. The dysphagia rate of group A at 2-month follow-up was significantly lower than that of group B. No statistically significant difference existed between the 2 groups at the other time points. Swallowing Quality of Life of group A at 48 hours and 2 months postoperatively were significantly higher than those of group B. The thickness of the prevetebral soft tissue at 48 hours and 2 months postoperatively were significantly lower in group A than in group B. Compared with using an anterior plate, anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion with a stand-alone anchored spacer achieved a similar clinical outcome with less irritation to the prevertebral soft tissue and a lower dysphagia rate in the first 2 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yifei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Jueqian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yuan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011859:Radiography; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation*; D055009:Spondylosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D053441:Suture Anchors; D016896:Treatment Outcome