The Efficacy of Anterior Cervical Plating Systems in the Management of Degenerative Cervical Spondylosis

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of anterior cervical plating systems, such as ORION? plate(locked plate), PCB plate-cage, TOP plate(unlocked plate). METHODS: This study was performed in 97 degenerative cervical spondylotic patients who adimitted to the hospital from January 1996 to March 1999. The average follow-up period was 13 months. RESULTS: One-level anterior plating appeared to have better surgical results(p<0.05) and a lower complication rate(p<0.001) than multi-level plating. And a group of patients with radiculopathy appeared to have better surgical results than that of patients with myelopathy(p<0.001). Unlocked TOP? plate system appeared to have higher metallic failure rate(p<0.001) and worse results(p<0.05) than the other plating systems. The outcome based on Odom's criterion was excellent or good in 95.8% of the patients. CONCLUSION: The one-level anterior plating of cervical anterior fusion in degenerative cervical spondylotic patients appears to have better result and no complication than multi-level plating. Also, locked plating system appears to have better result and no metallic failure than unlocked plating system.