title: Outcome Evaluation of Zero-Profile Implant Compared with an Anterior Plate and Cage Used in Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Two-Year Follow-Up Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the clinical outcome and complications between Zero-P implant and cage with anterior plate in patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).
  
  
  METHODS
  50 patients underwent ACDF operation of which 23 patients had Zero-P implanted and 27 had cage and plate implanted. Preoperative and Post-operative clinical evaluation included Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, Neck Disability Index (NDI) score and Short form 36 (SF-36). Incidences of dysphagia-related symptoms were recorded. Plain radiographs were performed 2 days postoperatively and at follow-up to evaluate cervical prevertebral soft tissue, sagittal alignment, fusion rate and implant failure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both groups, the JOA and SF-36 scores significantly increased, cervical sagittal alignment significantly corrected and the NDI score dropped compared to the preoperative at follow-up. All patients achieved solid fusion and no implant displacement was observed. The thickness of the prevertebral soft tissue at 2 days and 3 months postoperatively was lower in the Zero-P group. The incidence of dysphagia in the Zero-P group was significantly lower and the duration was much shorter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Zero-P used in ACDF could lead to similar clinical and radiographical outcomes compared with cage and plate, but with lower incidence and shorter duration of dysphagia.
authors.affiliation: Yangzhou University, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jingcheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yuping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Xinmin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Jiandong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Shengfei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000379:methods*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome