title: Empty Bladed PEEK Cage for Interbody Fusion after Anterior Cervical Discectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cervical disc herniation (CDH) can be treated using different anterior and posterior methods. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is currently gold standard and provides bony fusion and good clinical outcome. Recently many studies reported good clinical and radiological outcomes in cases who underwent anterior cervical discectomy (ACD) and reconstruction with empty cage. This study aimed to review our results after cervical microdiscectomy reconstructed with empty polyether ether ketone (PEEK) cage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five cases with single level CDH who underwent microdiscectomy were included to this study. Reconstruction was performed using empty bladed cervical PEEK cages. Clinical (Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Odom scores) and radiological results (intervertebral disc and foraminal heights, mean cervical spine lordosis angle, and fusion rate) were reviewed one day and one year after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 18 males and 7 females, aged between 25 and 54 years (mean: 40.8). Mean neck and arm VAS scores reduced from 2.9 to 1.4, and from 7.2 to 1.8, respectively. Odom scores were found to be 1.6 and 1.4 at 1st day and one year postoperatively, respectively. Subsidence was seen in three cases (12%). There was no significant change in heights of neural foramina and intervertebral discs, and no change in cervical spine lordosis, when compared postoperative 1st day and one year radiographs. Fusion was detected in 92% of cases in one year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bladed cervical cages are safe with almost no risk of dislocation. Empty cages provide acceptable rates of fusion and subsidence.
authors.affiliation: Umraniye Training & Research Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Haydar
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gok
authors.forename: Mehmet Resit
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Onen
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Ilker
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gulec
authors.forename: Sait
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naderi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001577:Benzophenones; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000379:methods*; D004986:Ether; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000601:surgery; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery*; D007659:Ketones; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011108:Polymers; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001577:Benzophenones; D007659:Ketones; D011108:Polymers; D004986:Ether; C063834:polyetheretherketone; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols