Anterior Cervical Interbody Fusion with Carbon-Composite Cages and Local Autobone for Cervical Disc Disease

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the technical feasibility, the clinical and radiological results of the interbody fusion with a carbon-composite cage and local autobone following anterior cervical discectomy. METHODS: From November 2001 to April 2002, fifteen patients with symptomatic degenerative cervical disc disease underwent this procedure. After standard microsurgical anterior approach, cervical interbody fusion was performed with carbon-composite cage and local autobone of operative site. The average follow-up period was 8.7 months. RESULTS: Postoperatively, all patients experienced clinical improvement and follow-up cervical X-ray films checked six months postoperatively demonstrated complete interbody fusion. One patient complained of transient swallowing difficulty, one patient noticed operative site hematoma and four patients noticed implant subsidence. CONCLUSION: This technique is considered as an easier implantation procedure than the previous techniques. The other advantages of this interbody fusion are immediate stability with good clinical response, no complication at donor site and easy to assess the fusion.