Anterior cervical discectomy plus intervertebral polyetheretherketone cage fusion over three and four levels without plating is safe and effective long-term.

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is an established treatment for single-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy and radiculopathy, yet its stand-alone use for multi-level disease of the subaxial cervical spine remains controversial. We report a prospectively studied case series of 30 patients receiving polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cage fusion over three and four cervical levels without anterior plating. Seven (23.3%) four-level procedures (all C3 to C7) were performed, the other 23 (76.7%) being three-level, with 19 (64.4%) at C4 to C7 and four (12.3%) at C3 to C6. Long-term follow-up of more than 2 years was available in 67% of patients. This cohort showed statistically significant improvements in visual analogue score for neck pain (p=0.0006), arm pain (p=0.0003) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association myelopathy score (p=0.002). Fused segment heights increased by 0.6-1.1%. Adjacent segment disease requiring ACDF at C3-4 was seen in 6.7% of patients (one after trauma) at a mean follow-up of 62 months. Same segment recurrence requiring posterior decompression with instrumented fusion was found in 10% of patients at a mean follow-up of 49 months, only one of whom had radiological evidence of cage subsidence. The results suggest the procedure is safe and effective with potentially less morbidity than anterior plating, shorter inpatient stays than posterior approaches, acceptable same segment recurrence and lower than predicted adjacent segment disease rates.

Oblique axis body fracture--pitfalls in management.

BACKGROUND: Transverse fractures through the body of the axis, rather than at the base of the odontoid are uncommon and management with an external orthosis is usually recommended. Oblique fractures through the body of the axis accompanying a hangman's fracture have not been reported and are not described as part of any classification system. Such fractures may be at high risk for treatment failure in an external orthosis. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report on a case of an oblique axis fracture that failed treatment with external orthosis. Posterior instrumented fusion was employed successfully using a C1-C3 and C4 poly axial screw rod construct. Frameless stereotaxy and a biomodel were useful surgical adjuncts. Twelve month follow up revealed bony union in an asymptomatic patient. CONCLUSIONS: Oblique fractures of the body of the axis can displace in a halo-thoracic orthosis. Serial radiological review is required to detect displacement prior to fracture union. Oblique fractures of the body of the axis can be managed surgically with preservation of atlanto-occipital motion, resulting in satisfactory clinical and radiological outcomes.

Use of the Solis cage and local autologous bone graft for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: early technical experience.

OBJECT: The authors prospectively evaluated the clinical and radiological outcomes after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) involving placement of a Solis cage and local autograft in patients who presented with symptomatic cervical spondylosis. METHODS: Twenty-two consecutive patients underwent ACDF for radiculopathy (13 cases), myeloradiculopathy (eight cases), or myelopathy alone (one case) and were assessed at 3, 6, and 12 months. Plain cervical spine radiography demonstrated a significant change in both local (p < 0.05) and regional (p < 0.05) kyphotic angles as well as an increase in segmental height (p < 0.05). At 12 months, plain radiography demonstrated Grades I, II, and III new bone formation in two, three, and 17 patients, respectively. Clinical outcomes were assessed using a visual analog scale for both neck and arm pain and a modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scale for myelopathy. There was a significant improvement in both arm (p < 0.05) and neck pain (p < 0.05). At 12 months, 16 (84%) of 19 and 19 (86%) of 22 patients reported complete resolution of arm pain and neck pain, respectively. There was a significant improvement in JOA scores following surgery (p < 0.05). There were two complications in the series: one case of deep venous thrombosis and one case of postoperative arm pain that resolved after conservative treatment. There were no technical complications. CONCLUSIONS: Early experience with Solis cage-augmented ACDF indicates good clinical and radiological outcomes; additionally, there are the advantages of absent donor site morbidity and anterior plate system-related morbidity.