title: [Zero-profile implant for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in treating single cervical disc herniation].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the efficacy and safety of zero-profile implant for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in treating single cervical disc herniation.
  
  
  METHODS
  From August 2011 to June 2012,30 patients with single cervical disc herniation were treated with ACDF using zero-profile implant in one motion segment. There were 18 males and 12 females with a mean age of 55.3 years old (ranged, 36 to 68). Incidence of dysphagia, height of intervertebral space and condition of bone fusion were observed after operation. Spinal nerves function and clinical results were assessed according to Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, Odom criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients were followed up from 12 to 24 months with an average of 15.9 months. The mean intraoperative blood loss was (85.3 +/- 14.2) ml (70 to 120 ml) and operative time was (90.0 +/- 12.8) min (70 to 120 ml). Preoperative, postoperative at 3 months and 1 year, JOA score was 8.72 +/- 2.36 (5.0 to 13.0), 14.72 +/- 1.66 (11.5 to 17.0) and 15.65 +/- 1.03 (13.5 to 17.0), respectively. One year after operation, according Odom criteria to assess, 22 cases got excellent results, 7 good, 1 fair. All dysphagiaes vanished completely at 3 months after operation. The lost height of intervertebral space was (0.34 +/- 0.13) mm (0.1 to 0.6 mm) and (0.39 +/- 0.15) mm (0.2 to 0.7 mm) at 3, 12 months after operation, respectively. All patients obtained bone fusion at 1 year after operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The zero-profile implant is a valid alternative to anterior cervical plate in treating single cervical disc herniation with ACDF, it has advantages of convenient procedure, satisfactory effect, lower incidence of postoperative dysphagia, reliable stability and less implant-related complications.
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hai-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao-Lin
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yong-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Jin-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ya-Zeng
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012449:Safety; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome