title: The Effect of Dynamic Versus Static Plating Systems on Fusion Rates and Complications in 1-Level and/or 2-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Systematic Review.
abstract: A systematic review.
  
  
  
  To determine the effect of plate design on fusion rates in patients undergoing a 1- and 2-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).
  
  
  
  Articles published between January 1, 2002 and January 1, 2015 were systematically reviewed to determine the fusion rate of 1- and 2-level ACDFs using either a fully constrained or semiconstrained locking plate. Additional variables that were collected included the number of levels, the type of graft/cage used, the study design, the method for determining fusion, and complications.
  
  
  
  Fifty-two articles and 3053 patients were included. No significant difference in the fusion rate for 1- and 2-level ACDF using a fully constrained plate (96.1%) and a semiconstrained plate (95.29%) was identified (P=0.84). No difference (P=0.85) in the total complication rate between fully constrained plates (3.20%) and semiconstrained plates (3.66%), or the rate of complications that required a revision (2.17% vs. 2.41%, P=0.82) was identified. However, semiconstrained plates had a nonsignificant increase in total dysphagia rates (odds ratio=1.660, P=0.28) and short-term dysphagia rates (odds ratio=2.349, P=0.10).
  
  
  
  In patients undergoing a 1- or 2-level ACDF, there is no significant difference in the fusion or complication rate between fully constrained plates and semiconstrained plates.
  
  
  
  Level II-systematic review.
authors.affiliation: *The Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA †Department of Orthopaedics, Centro Hospitalar do Porto-Hospital de Santo António, Porto, Portugal ‡Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Gregory D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: Christopher K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Kepler
authors.forename: Douglas A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hollern
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodrigues-Pinto
authors.forename: Mark F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Kurd
authors.forename: Jefferson R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Mitchell G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Maltenfort
authors.forename: Jonathan T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Andrew N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Fleischman
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dwight
authors.forename: Paul W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Millhouse
authors.forename: Alexander R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Vaccaro
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000601:surgery*; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*