RESUMO
AIM: The aim of this retrospective clinical and radiographic study was to provide follow-up data on the surgical success and patient outcome of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cage-assisted anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) at four levels. The literature on four-level ACDF is scanty, and the reported series are not enterely comparable because of differences in patient characteristics, types of spinal arthrodesis, and methods for quantitating outcome. METHODS: During the period between January 2003 and January 2005 10 patients (3 males and 7 females, with a mean age of 54.9 years) suffering from cervical myeloradiculopathy due to compressive spondylosys from C3-C4 to C6-C7 underwent PEEK cage-assisted ACDF at four levels. RESULTS: No intra- or postoperative complications were noted. The follow-up period ranged from 12 to 24 months (mean 15.8 months). The NCSS score was 9.2+/-1.48 preoperatively and 12.7+/-0.67 at follow-up examination (P<0.05). Preoperatively, the curvature, range of motion (ROM), and height of the foramina of the cervical spine were 16.9+/-5.84 degrees , 27.6+/-3.5 degrees , and 8.1+/-2.33 mm respectively, whereas at follow-up evaluation they were 19.5+/-7.03 degrees (P>0.05), 22.2+/-3.43 degrees (P<0.05), and 10.6+/-1.71 mm (P<0.05) respectively. None of the patients showed pre- or postoperative cervical instability. The fusion rate was 97.5%. CONCLUSION: PEEK cage-assisted ACDF at four levels is an effective procedure for the treatment of patients with spondylotic compression of the spinal cord and/or nerve roots from C3-C4 to C6-C7.
