title: Comparison of Anterior Cervical Discectomy Fusion Techniques: Bladed and Non Bladed PEEK Cages.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to compare the different types of fusion materials known as PEEK cages used during anterior cervical discectomy (ACD) surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 67 patients were operated and evaluated retrospectively under two groups (group A: 35 PEEK cage patients, group B: 32 bladed PEEK cage patients) between 2009 and 2013. Preoperative and postoperative (postoperative first day, postoperative 1st, 3rd and 12-24th mo) images were obtained. The cervical disc heights, cervical and segmental lordotic angles of the operated levels were calculated. Pain assessment was performed and fusion rates were also compared. Mann-Whitney U test was applied to compare the outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pain scores (especially for arm pain) were decreased significantly in both groups after surgery regardless of the type of operation technique (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between both groups at the disc height measurements of operated levels in postoperative periods (P > 0.05). In addition to these; there was no significant difference between both groups of segmental and cervical lordodic angles in postoperative periods (P > 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the fusion rates and pain scores of both groups (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PEEK cage and bladed PEEK cages can be used safely to obtain fusion after ACD.
authors.affiliation: Çanakkale 18 Mart University, School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Çanakkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guven
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cosar
authors.forename: Bahadir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Alkan
authors.forename: Adem Bozkurt
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Aras
authors.forename: Tarik
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akman
authors.forename: Ozbey
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Safak
authors.forename: Oznur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Karaarslan
authors.forename: Davut
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ceylan
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tokmak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001577:Benzophenones; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007659:Ketones; D008141:Lordosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011108:Polymers; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001577:Benzophenones; D007659:Ketones; D011108:Polymers; C063834:polyetheretherketone; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols