title: Radiological and clinical results of patients after ACDF with and without preoperative software-assisted cage selection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Comparison of software facilitated preoperatively-selected cages versus standard intraoperatively-selected cages, assessing radiological and clinical outcomes of patients after single level cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cages of study group patients were preoperatively chosen via software-aided dimensioning. Controls obtained cages determined by intraoperative trail implants. Primary endpoints were segmental height (SH), regional angulation (RA) and global cervical angulation (GCA) measured on plain radiographs before, immediately and 12 months after surgery. Neck pain on the visual analogue scale, the neck disability index, and patient satisfaction index recorded at 12 months follow up (FU) were the secondary endpoints.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Each group comprised of 20 patients and both depicted similar demographics and operated segmental levels. Mean postoperative SH was significantly increased in both study and control groups, p<0.001* and p=0.006* respectively. Immediate postoperative gain of lordosis was only significant for the study group p<0.001*. At 12 months FU, SH and RA decreased significantly in both groups. GCA and all secondary endpoints were similar for various measured time points. The two groups did not show any significant difference for all investigated parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The radiographical and clinical outcomes of patients receiving cages preoperatively selected by software-assistance are similar to that of patients obtaining conventionally chosen cages. However the former allows for better regional gain/restoration of lordosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Langendreer, Ruhr-University-Bochum, Bochum, Germany. Electronic address: christopher.brenke@kk-bochum.de.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brenke
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Langendreer, Ruhr-University-Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carolus
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Langendreer, Ruhr-University-Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Langendreer, Ruhr-University-Bochum, Bochum, Germany. Electronic address: genevieve.ening@kk-bochum.de.
authors.forename: Genevieve
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ening
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Langendreer, Ruhr-University-Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schmieder
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Langendreer, Ruhr-University-Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barth
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000601:surgery*; D008141:Lordosis / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057234:Preoperative Period; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012984:Software; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ACDF; Cervical spine; Outcome; Software-assisted selected cages