Introduction: Anterior cervical disectomy and fusion is one of the commonest anterior cervical spine procedure usually done for cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy.Single or Two level surgery is routinely
done.
Methods: In 1200 bedded tertiary care hospital, from January 2006 to December 2014, 242 anterior cervical disectomy and fusion procedures done. Of which, in 34 cases cervical interbody device with screws, in 134 cases interbody cage was used. In remaining 74 cases iliac crest graft was used for fusion.
Results: Postoperative clinical improvement was nearly similar in all the three procedures, with best improvement in cervical interbody device and screws. Recurrence of neck and arm pain incidence was less with Cervical interbody device and screws. Attempt towards restoration of cervical lordosis immediately after surgery was possible with cervical interbody device and screws.(P<0.005)
Conclusions: Cervical interbody device and screws used for anterior cervical disectomy and fusion gives better clinical results than cervical interbody cage and iliac crest grafting
Patient Care: patients will benefit by good anterior cervical fusion and cervical kyphosis will be reduced in cervical radiculopathy or radiculo myelopathy
Learning Objectives: To know about various techniques of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.To analyze and find out the best method for anterior cervical fusion following discectomy
References: 1.Comparison of a zero-profile anchored spacer (ROI-C) and the polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages with an anterior plate in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy.
Liu Y, Wang H, Li X, Chen J, Sun H, Wang G, Yang H, Jiang W.Eur Spine J. 2016 Mar 11. [Epub ahead of print]
2.A comparison of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) using self-locking stand-alone polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cage with ACDF using cage and plate in the treatment of three-level cervical degenerative spondylopathy: a retrospective study with 2-year follow-up.
Chen Y, Lü G, Wang B, Li L, Kuang L.
Eur Spine J. 2016 Feb 23