Anterior cervical hybrid surgical treatment for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical results of anterior cervical discectomy and reconstruction with a self-locking cage and internal fixation with short segmental plate for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2012 to June 2015, a total of 106 patients received anterior cervical discectomy and reconstruction with a self-locking cage and internal fixation with short segmental plate were followed up. There were 71 males and 35 females, aged from 42 to 74 years old with an average of(55.4±5.1) years. Three segments were involved in 82 cases and four segments in 24 cases. Operation time, blood loss, postoperative drainage, and hospitalization time were recorded. Visual analogue scale(VAS) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association Score (JOA) were analyzed before and after operation(including 5 days, 3, 6, 12 months after operation and final follow-up), and the JOA improvement rate was analyzed. The cervical lordosis and ROM were measured before and after operation(including the follow-up point above) by X-rays. The postoperative complications were recorded and analyzed as well.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the operations were successful. The average operative time was (126.2±25.1) min, and the amount of blood loss was (82.1±26.3) ml. All the patients were followed up from 12 to 48 months with an average of (30.4±10.5) months. The VAS score of neck pain and JOA score was significantly better from 6.11±1.54 and 9.22±2.42 preoperatively to 2.14±0.51 and 12.46±1.42 at 5 days post-operation, respectively(<0.05). The improvement rate of JOA was (56.7±21.6)%, there was no statistically significant difference of VAS, JOA scores and the improvement rate of JOA at each time after operation (>0.05). Postoperative cervical lordosis at 3 months was significantly improved from preoperative (11.5±6.8)° to (19.6±8.9)°(<0.05), and it can keep satisfactory stability until final follow-up(>0.05). Postoperative ROM at 3 months was significantly decreased from the preoperative (37.6±10.4)° to (18.2±5.9)°(<0.05), but there was no significant change in the process of follow-up (>0.05). All the complications such as dysphagia (19 cases), axial neck pain(6 cases), cerebral fluid leakage(3 cases), and hoarseness(2 cases), got better after conservative treatment. Three cases had intervertebral space non-fusion until final follow-up(without clinical symptom), but no loosening, breakage, or displacement of internal fixation were found.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Anterior cervical discectomy, reconstruction with a self-locking cage and internal fixation with short segmental plate which can reduce intraoperative injury, restore cervical lordosis, improve neurological function and lower postoperative complications, it is an alternative treatment for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy.</p>

Outcomes of Secondary Laminoplasty for Patients with Unsatisfactory Results after Anterior Multilevel Cervical Surgery

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the causes for failed anterior cervical surgery and the outcomes of secondary laminoplasty. METHODS: Seventeen patients failed anterior multilevel cervical surgery and the following conservative treatments between Feb 2003 and May 2011 underwent secondary laminoplasty. Outcomes were evaluated by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) Scale and visual analogue scale (VAS) before the secondary surgery, at 1 week, 2 months, 6 months, and the final visit. Cervical alignment, causes for revision and complications were also assessed. RESULTS: With a mean follow-up of 29.7+/-12.1 months, JOA score, recovery rate and excellent to good rate improved significantly at 2 months (p0.05). Mean VAS score decreased postoperatively (p0.05). The causes for secondary surgery were inappropriate approach in 3 patients, insufficient decompression in 4 patients, adjacent degeneration in 2 patients, and disease progression in 8 patients. Complications included one case of C5 palsy, axial pain and cerebrospinal fluid leakage, respectively. CONCLUSION: Laminoplasty has satisfactory results in failed multilevel anterior surgery, with a low incidence of complications.

Factors Affecting Adjacent Level Ossification Development after Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to analyze the affecting factors of adjacent level ossification development (ALOD) after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study enrolled 75 patients who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion and were followed-up for more than two years. Twenty-five patients were related with trauma and 47 patients were diagnosed as degenerative cervical disorder. We assessed the incidence, location and timing of ALOD, and compared the incidence of ossification between trauma and degenerative disease groups to know the effect of soft tissue damage. We also reviewed the correlation between the development of ossification at adjacent level and the factors, such as fusion level, age, operation time, duration of follow-up, and the presence of ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), as well as ossification of yellow ligament (OYL). RESULTS: Ossification developed in 33 patients (44%). Five cases (15%) were detected during the first year after surgery, 10 (30%) cases detected during the second year after surgery, 13 (40%) between second and third year, and 5 (15%) cases of more than three years after surgery. Only the fusion level was related with the development of ossification statistically (p<0.001). Age, operation time, duration of follow-up, sex ratio, presence of OPLL, and OYL were not related with the incidence of ossification significantly. There was no significant difference in the incidence of ALOD between the trauma group and degenerative disease group (p=0.3625). CONCLUSION: To detect ALOD, it needs a long time for follow-up after surgery. We thought that ALOD is affected by excessive loading at the adjacent level after fusion rather than severity of the soft tissue damage.

Comparative Analysis of Cervical Arthroplasty Using Mobi-C(R) and Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Husion Using the Solis(R) -Cage

OBJECTIVE: Although anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is the standard treatment for degenerative cervical disc disease, concerns regarding adjacent level degeneration and loss of motion have suggested that arthroplasty may be a better alternative. We have compared clinical and radiological results in patients with cervical disc herniations treated with arthroplasty and ACDF. METHODS: We evaluated 53 patients treated for cervical disc herniations with radiculopathy, 21 of whom underwent arthroplasty and 32 of whom underwent ACDF. Clinical results included the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score for upper extremity radiculopathy, neck disability index (NDI), duration of hospital stay and convalescence time. All patients were assessed radiologically by measuring cervical lordosis, segmental lordosis and segmental range-of-movement (ROM) of operated and adjacent disc levels. RESULTS: Mean hospital stay (5.62 vs. 6.26 days, p<0.05) and interval between surgery and return to work (1.10 vs. 2.92 weeks, p<0.05) were significantly shorter in the arthroplasty than in the fusion group. Mean NDI and extremity VAS score improved after 12 months in both groups. Although it was not significant, segmental ROM of adjacent levels was higher in the fusion group than in the arthroplasty group. And, segmental motion of operated levels in arthroplasty group maintained more than preoperative value at last follow up. CONCLUSION: Although clinical results were similar in the two groups, postoperative recovery was significantly shorter in the arthroplasty group. Although it was not significant, ROM of adjacent segments was less in the arthroplasty group. Motion of operated levels in arthroplasty group was preserved at last follow up.