title: Skip-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with self-locking stand-alone PEEK cages for the treatment of 2 noncontiguous levels of cervical spondylosis.
abstract: METHODS
  Retrospectively study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate clinical and radiologic outcomes of skip-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) with self-locking stand-alone polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages for the treatment of 2 noncontiguous levels of cervical disk degenerative disease (CDDD).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The use of stand-alone PEEK cages in ACDF has been proved to be safe and effective to treat CDDD. For 2 noncontiguous levels of CDDD, skip-level ACDF with self-locking stand-alone PEEK cages, which fuses only the involved levels without anterior plates, may be the optimal treatment choice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen consecutive patients with 2 noncontiguous levels of CDDD underwent skip-level ACDF with self-locking stand-alone PEEK cages. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores and Odom criteria. Fusion rate and time, cages subsidence, spinal curvature, intervertebral height at the operated level, and adjacent disk degeneration were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were followed up for average 43.6 months (range, 24-78 mo). The mean operative time was 113 minutes (range, 98-134 min) with an average blood loss of 62 mL (range, 47-76 mL). The Japanese Orthopaedic Association score, degree of spinal curvature, and intervertebral height were significantly increased at the final follow-up examination compared with preoperatively (P<0.05). Fifteen patients (93.8%) achieved solid fusion in an average time of 5.1 months. Three cages (9.38%) in 2 patients subsided. Radiologic evidence of adjacent segment degeneration was observed in 3 segments (6.25%; 2 infra-adjacent segments and 1 intermediate segment). No case had neurological deterioration postoperatively. No implant failure or migration was observed during follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment of 2 noncontiguous levels of CDDD with skip-level ACDF with self-locking stand-alone cages achieved good clinical and radiologic outcomes including a high fusion rate, low complication rate, and excellent maintenance of spinal curvature and intervertebral height.
authors: *Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai †The Third Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Jiangsu, China.
authors: Hui-Ren
authors: HR
authors: Wang
authors: Xi-Lei
authors: XL
authors: Li
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Dong
authors: Feng-Lai
authors: FL
authors: Yuan
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001577:Benzophenones; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000601:surgery*; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007659:Ketones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011108:Polymers; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D055009:Spondylosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001577:Benzophenones; D007659:Ketones; D011108:Polymers; C063834:polyetheretherketone; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols