Anterior locking plates with titanium mesh in treatment of 23 patients with cervical fractures and dislocations: X-ray and 1-year follow-up evaluations / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

From January 2005 to January 2008, 23 cases of fractures and dislocations of cervical spine treated with anterior decompression, reconstruction of bone graft with titanium mesh, and titanium locking plates fixation in Department of Orthopaedics, the 309 Hospital of Chinese PLA were retrospectively analyzed, including 16 males and 7 females, aged 41.9 years (ranging 25 ?65 years). The clinical effect and application value of this treatment was evaluated; the conditions at preoperative, immediate postoperative and follow-up were evaluated by JOA grade, and these radiographs were taken. Lordosis (kyphosis) of the fusion segment with Cobb's angle, and lordosis (kyphosis) of cervical spine with D value were measured to evaluate effect of reconstruction and cervical spine physiological curve. All cases were followed-up for 20.5 months (ranging 1-3 years). Clinical stability was reached in all cases during the follow-up. There were significant differences between preoperative and immediate postoperative, between preoperative and follow-up groups in terms of JOA grade, Cobb's angle and D value (P < 0.05). The JOA grade of immediate postoperative was improved compared with that during follow-up (P < 0.05). The mean improvement rate was 63% at 1 year of follow up. A good curative effect was obtained by using anterior locking plate with titanium mesh systems in treatment of cervical fractures and dislocations and a good effect of restoring and maintaining the lordosis of cervical spine can be also obtained.