title: Cervical foraminal and discal height after dynamic rotational plating in the cervical discectomy and fusion.
abstract: METHODS
  This is a retrospective study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of the dynamic rotational plate to the intervertebral foraminal and discal height after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  There is no report regarding the changes of foraminal and discal height following cervical dynamic rotational plating.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the outcomes of 30 patients (36 levels), who were followed-up for an average of 15 months (range, 12-57 months) after undergoing fusions with anterior cervical dynamic rotational plating for cervical radiculopathy, from March 2005 to February 2009. The changes of foraminal and intervertebral discal height of the operated levels were observed on oblique and lateral radiographs obtained at the preoperative, postoperative and follow-up examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The foraminal and discal height increased sufficiently, immediately following the operation. However, follow-up results showed gradual decrease in the foraminal and discal height. After 6 months of the surgery, they showed little difference compared with the preoperative heights. However, clinically, patients showed improvements in radiating pain during the follow-up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anterior cervical dynamic rotational plating was an effective treatment modality for cervical radiculopathy without the deterioration of the foraminal and intervertebral discal height.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yongin Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yongin, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Oh
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Moon Soo
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong-Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: In-Sung
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Seok Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Chan
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Hwan
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Bo-Kyung
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hwan-Mo
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Cervical radiculopathy; Cervical spine; Dynamic rotational plate