title: A Prospective Study of Interbody Fat Graft Application With the Anterior Contralateral Cervical Microdiscectomy to Preserve Segmental Mobility.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Any surgical procedure aims at protecting mobile segments at the operated level, and the sagittal balance of the columna vertebralis. Interbody fusion has become an often applied technique in anterior cervical discectomy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To indicate that a minimally invasive technique in which we use interbody fat graft placement showed great results and effectiveness, especially in patients who were suffering from cervical paramedian disc herniation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 432 patients were observed from 2000 to 2013. All these consecutive patients had paramedian disc herniation. The initial 239 patients (group 1) underwent microdiscectomy without graft placement, whereas the remaining 193 patients (group 2) had a microdiscectomy with interbody fat graft insertion. The Neck Disability Index (NDI) and Short Form-36 (SF-36) were used to evaluate clinical outcomes. They were followed up for 5.3 years (range 2-13 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Spontaneous radiological fusion was noticed in 12% of group 1 patients and none of the group 2 patients. It has been observed that the mean overall cervical curvature (C2-7) angles and segmental lordosis did not change significantly in late follow-up findings. During both early and late follow-ups, all patients indicated a decreasing NDI score, but in late follow-up, an improving SF-36 score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This surgical technique provides good direct decompression and preserves mobility at the treated level, while preventing disc collapse.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Neurosurgery, Acibadem University, Acibadem Fulya Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yunus
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Neurosurgery, Acibadem University, Acibadem Fulya Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Halit
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Çavusoglu
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Neurosurgery, Acibadem University, Acibadem Fulya Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yüce
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Neurosurgery, Acibadem University, Acibadem Fulya Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Özdilmaç
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Neurosurgery, Acibadem University, Acibadem Fulya Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Okan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kahyaoglu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D008141:Lordosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000637:transplantation*; D016378:Tissue Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Anterior cervical discectomy; Contralateral approach; Fat graft; Kyphosis; Spinal alignment