ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: We wanted to identify the natural course of prevertebral soft tissue swelling after performing one-level or two-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), and we compared the prevertebral soft tissue swelling between the plate and cage groups, and we wanted to help preventing potentially lethal airway complications after ACDF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred thirteen patients who underwent one-level or two-level ACDF with plate and screws or cages were studied. Eighty-seven patients underwent ACDF using plates and twenty-six underwent ACDF using cages. Cervical spine lateral radiography was taken preoperatively, on the immediate postoperative day and on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th days after surgery. The prevertebral soft tissue was measured from C2 to C6 on the cervical spine lateral radiography. RESULTS: Prevertebral soft tissue swelling occurred postoperatively and the peak level was found on the second and third days after surgery. The prevertebral soft tissue swelling was gradually decreased from the fourth day after surgery. Prominent swelling of the prevertebral soft tissue was found at the 2nd, 3rd and 4th cervical spines. There were no significant differences of the prevertebral soft tissue swelling between the one-level and two-level ACDF groups. The cage insertion group showed less swelling than did the plate fixation group. CONCLUSION: The peak prevertebral soft tissue swelling was found on the second and third days after surgery. The cage insertion group showed less swelling than did the plate fixation group.
Subject(s)
Humans , Diskectomy , SpineABSTRACT
PURPOSE: We wanted to evaluate the clinical results of the Latarjet procedure for treating anterior shoulder instability combined with a glenoid bone defect. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between Oct. 2006 and May. 2007, fourteen patients underwent a Latarjet operation to treat their anterior shoulder instability combined with a glenoid bone defect. The mean follow-up period was 15 months (range: 12 to 19 months), and the average age at the time of surgery was 29.9-years-old (range: 19 to 44 years). There were 13 males and 1 female. Eight patients exhibited involvement of the right shoulder. The dominant arm was involved in 8 patients. Six patients had undergone a previous arthroscopic Bankart repair before their Latarjet operation and 2 patients had a history of seizure. RESULTS: The average Rowe score improved from 51.8 to 80.2 with 9 excellent, 4 good, and 1 fair results. The average Korean shoulder score for instability improved from 61.6 to 82.1 postoperatively. The active forward flexion and external rotation at the side of the involved shoulder was an average of 8degrees and 16degrees less than that of the uninvolved shoulder. The muscle strength of the involved shoulder measured 78.7% in forward flexion and 82.5% in external rotation, as compared with that of the uninvolved shoulder. There was 1 case of dislocation, 1 transient subluxation, 2 fibrotic unions, 1 resorption of the transferred coracoid process, 1 intraoperative broken bone, 1 transient musculocutaneous nerve injury and 1 case of stiffness. CONCLUSION: The Latarjet procedure for treating anterior shoulder instability combined with a significant glenoid defect effectively restores function and stability through extending the articular arc at the expense of external rotation. We should be cautious to avoid or detect complications when performing coracoid transfer.