title: Polyetheretherketone Cage with Demineralized Bone Matrix Can Replace Iliac Crest Autografts for Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion in Subaxial Cervical Spine Injuries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to compare the clinical and radiologic outcomes of patients with subaxial cervical injury who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) with autologous iliac bone graft or polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages using demineralized bone matrix (DBM).
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2005 to December 2010, 70 patients who underwent one-level ACDF with plate fixation for post-traumatic subaxial cervical spinal injury in a single institution were retrospectively investigated. Autologous iliac crest grafts were used in 33 patients (Group I), whereas 37 patients underwent ACDF using a PEEK cage filled with DBM (Group II). Plain radiographs were used to assess bone fusion, interbody height (IBH), segmental angle (SA), overall cervical sagittal alignment (CSA, C2-7 angle), and development of adjacent segmental degeneration (ASD). Clinical outcome was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and Frankel grade.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean follow-up duration for patients in Group I and Group II was 28.9 and 25.4 months, respectively. All patients from both groups achieved solid fusion during the follow-up period. The IBH and SA of the fused segment and CSA in Group II were better maintained during the follow-up period. Nine patients in Group I and two patients in Group II developed radiologic ASD. There were no statistically significant differences in the VAS score and Frankel grade between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that PEEK cage filled with DBM, and plate fixation is at least as safe and effective as ACDF using autograft, with good maintenance of cervical alignment. With advantages such as no donor site morbidity and no graft-related complications, PEEK cage filled with DBM, and plate fixation provide a promising surgical option for treating traumatic subaxial cervical spine injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam National University Medical School & Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Soo-Han
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam National University Medical School & Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Kil
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam National University Medical School & Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Gwangju, Korea.|Department of Neurosurgery, Happy-view Samsung Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam National University Medical School & Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Woong
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam National University Medical School & Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyuk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hur
keywords: ACDF; DBM; Iliac autograft; PEEK cage; Subaxial cervical spine injury