title: Distractable titanium cages versus PEEK cages versus iliac crest bone grafts for the replacement of cervical vertebrae.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the advantages and disadvantages of distractable titanium cages, polyether-etherketone cages, and iliac crest bone graft for the replacement of cervical vertebral bodies (VBR).
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical and radiological results of 32 patients who underwent cervical corpectomy for the decompression of the spinal canal were retrospectively analysed and discussed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the vertebral body replacement the authors used distractable titanium cages (n = 6), PEEK cages (n = 19), and iliac crest bone graft (n = 7). The neurological outcomes according to postoperative JOA scores did not show significant differences between the three groups. PEEK cages showed a high rate of secondary subsidence (32%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the risk of donor site morbidity the authors recommend iliac crest bone graft as primary choice for VBR because of its excellent fusion rate and its cost effectiveness. For revision cases we recommend titanium cages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum Karlsruhe , Karlsruhe , Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan Alexander
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: König
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Spetzger
mesh_terms: D001577:Benzophenones; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007085:Ilium; D007659:Ketones; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011108:Polymers; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D001577:Benzophenones; D007659:Ketones; D011108:Polymers; C063834:polyetheretherketone; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D014025:Titanium