Advantages of the Plating for Anterior Cervical Discectomy and fusion: Comparison with Wearing Cervical Collar Without Plate

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Most patients wear cervical braces regardless of any anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) technique for cervical disc herniation, even in the plating. We compared clinical and radiological results in patients with cervical disc herniations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of plate insertion during ACDF and determine if this could eliminate the need for external cervical braces after ACDF. METHODS: In this study, we evaluated 67 patients treated for single level cervical disc herniation with radiculopathy. The patients were divided into two groups 30 patients treated with ACDF using a Solis(R) cage with plating who did not wear a cervical brace after the operation (Group I Plated group), and 37 patients treated with ACDF using a Solis(R) cage without plating who wore a cervical brace for 3 months (Group II Non-plated group). Clinical outcomes were assessed using the neck disability index (NDI), and visual analogue scale (VAS) for neck and arm pain at different times after the surgery. In addition, modified MacNab's grading criteria were used to assess the subjective patients' outcome at the last follow-up. Fusion was assessed at 6, 12, and 18 months after the surgery using upright AP, lateral, and flexion-extension views. RESULTS: Excellent or good results were achieved in the most patients from both groups. Patients in both groups showed marked pain relief in terms of neck and arm pain scores over all time intervals. The NDI scores in both groups significantly improved when compared to preoperative scores; however, at 1 and 2 months after the surgery, patients in Group I (Plated group) had significantly better NDI scores compared to Group II (Non-plated group). Higher rates of fusion were reported in Group I over all time intervals although none of these were statistically significant. There were two patients who required second surgery for cage subsidence in Group II. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that anterior cervical fusion with plating for cervical radiculopathy is a safe and effective treatment which can eliminate unnecessary need for an external cervical brace.