Anterior Cervical Fusion and Plate Stabilization in Patients with Lower Cervical Lesions

ABSTRACT

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is an efficacious procedure used to treat a variety of cervical spinal disorders, including spondylosis, myelopathy, herniated discs, trauma, and degenerative disc diseases. Refinements in instrumentation for the cervical spine have led to an increase in experience with these devices during the past decade. The need for postoperative immobilization, required to stabilize the patient while the fusion mass heals, is decreased or negated by internal fixation. The authors analyzed the results in 30 patients(22 traumatic; 8 non-traumatic) with lower cervical lesions, who underwent anterior interbody fixation with cervical plates between April, 1994 and June, 1996. We used either a unicortical(Orion TM) or bicortical screw system(Top TM) these two types of plates had no specific differences, but the Orion TM was easier and safer to operate. Although postoperative stability was successfully attained in all patients, two screw-related complications, which were fully resolved without causing any specific problems, were detected during the postoperative follow-up period. In nontraumatic lesions, we measured pre-and postoperative interbody heights at ten levels; postoperative interbody height was well preserved for one year. In conclusion, internal fixation may provide added security to the nervous system before bony fusion occurs, may lessen the number of levels requiring fusion, may increase the probability of successful fusion, and is conducive to early patient mobilization.