A prospective randomized comparison between with or without instrumentation in short-level anterior discectomy and autograft bone fusion / 中华外科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate anterior cervical plating in short-level anterior discectomy and autograft bone fusion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-one patients who underwent one- and two-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion were randomized to 2 groups, with or without instrumentation. Among them, 55 patients were followed up. The mean follow-up time was (22 +/- 7) months. Fusion rate, disc height and cervical lordotic alignment were assessed by radiographs.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The improving rates were 68% in non-instrumented group and 58% in instrumented group, respectively (P > 0.05). The fusion rate was 93% in the non-instrumented group and 100% in the later one. The disc height was decreased (0.7 +/- 1.0) mm in the former group and increased (1.2 +/- 0.6) mm in the later one (P < 0.01). Although the postoperative cervical lordotic alignment was maintained better in instrumented group, the difference was not significant.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Anterior cervical plating can make good influence on the result of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in some degree.</p>