Hybrid手术与单纯颈椎前路椎间盘切除融合术治疗颈椎退行性疾病的疗效比较

目的 对比Hybrid手术［颈椎人工椎间盘置换术（CTDR）联合颈椎前路椎间盘切除融合术（ACDF）］与单纯ACDF治疗颈椎退行性疾病的临床疗效。方法 回顾性分析2010年8月—2019年8月收治的48例双节段及三节段颈椎退行性病变患者临床资料,其中采用Hybrid手术治疗8例（Hybrid组）,采用ACDF治疗40例（ACDF组）。应用倾向性评分匹配法（PSM）对Hybrid组和ACDF组患者进行匹配,共8对匹配成功。分别采用t检验、χ²检验及重复测量方差分析比较2组患者基本资料、手术前后颈椎功能障碍指数（NDI）、日本骨科学会（JOA）评分、疼痛视觉模拟量表（VAS）评分及C_2~7活动度（ROM）的变化。结果 匹配后2组术前NDI、JOA评分、VAS评分、C_2~7 ROM差异均无统计学意义（P > 0.05）。2组手术时间、术中出血量、住院时间差异均无统计学意义（P > 0.05）。2组患者术后NDI、JOA评分、VAS评分均较术前明显改善,差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）;且Hybrid组NDI改善优于ACDF组,差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。2组患者术后C_2~7 ROM均较术前下降,差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）;C_2~7 ROM随访中逐渐增加,且Hybrid组在各随访时间点均优于ACDF组,差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。结论 Hybrid手术与ACDF治疗颈椎退行性疾病具有相同的临床效果,Hybrid手术在改善颈部功能和保留颈椎ROM方面优于ACDF。     

颈椎后路单开门椎管扩大椎板成形术治疗脊髓型颈椎病合并颈源性头痛的临床疗效

目的 探讨颈椎后路单开门椎管扩大椎板成形术治疗多节段脊髓型颈椎病（MCSM）合并颈源性头痛的临床疗效。方法 2018年1月—2021年6月，采用颈椎后路单开门椎管扩大椎板成形术治疗MCSM合并颈源性头痛患者31例，术前及术后1、3、12个月采用日本骨科学会（JOA）评分评价临床疗效，采用颈椎功能障碍指数（NDI）“头痛问题”Q5评分评价头痛程度。结果 所有手术顺利完成，所有患者随访>12个月。患者术后各随访时间点JOA评分较术前显著改善，差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。除1例轻度头痛患者术后头痛无缓解，其余患者头痛均不同程度缓解。结论 颈椎后路单开门椎管扩大椎板成形术能缓解MCSM合并颈源性头痛患者的临床症状。     

颈椎后路椎管扩大椎板成形术联合单侧椎弓根螺钉短节段内固定术治疗MRI T2WI高信号无骨折脱位型颈椎脊髓损伤

目的 比较颈椎后路椎管扩大椎板成形术联合单侧椎弓根螺钉短节段内固定术与颈椎前路减压植骨融合内固定术治疗MRI T2WI高信号无骨折脱位型颈椎脊髓损伤（SCI）的临床疗效。 方法 2014年1月—2017年1月海安市人民医院收治MRI T2WI高信号无骨折脱位颈椎SCI患者89例,其中43例采用颈椎后路椎管扩大椎板成形术联合单侧椎弓根螺钉短节段内固定术治疗（后路组）,46例采用颈椎前路减压植骨融合内固定术治疗（前路组）。记录2组手术时间、术中出血量,手术前后颈椎活动度（ROM）、脊髓横截面积、椎管面积残余率、髓内高信号强度比值,手术前后采用日本骨科学会（JOA）评分和颈椎功能障碍指数（NDI）评价疗效。 结果 所有手术顺利完成,所有患者随访时间＞ 24个月。2组手术时间、术中出血量差异无统计学意义（P ＞ 0.05）。末次随访时,2组脊髓横截面积、椎管面积残余率、髓内高信号强度比值、JOA评分和NDI较术前显著改善,且后路组颈椎ROM、椎管面积残余率、NDI和NDI改善率优于前路组,差异均有统计学意义（P ＜ 0.05）。 结论 2种术式均可有效治疗MRI T2WI高信号无骨折脱位型颈椎SCI,但颈椎后路椎管扩大椎板成形术联合单侧椎弓根螺钉短节段内固定术在术后远期生活质量改善方面更胜一筹,同时可更好地保留颈椎ROM。     

颈椎前路减压融合术治疗多节段脊髓型颈椎病的疗效观察

目的 探讨颈椎前路减压融合术治疗多节段脊髓型颈椎病（MCSM）的疗效。方法 选取2019年1月至2021年1月本院收治MCSM患者66例,按颈椎前路减压融合术（ACDF）组（n=33）和后路单开门椎管扩大成形术（LAMP）组（n=33）。比较两组手术情况和住院时间、颈椎曲度、疼痛评分、日本骨科协会（JOA）评分。结果 术后12个月,ACDF组的颈椎曲度明显增加,且明显高于LAMP组（P<0.01）;术后1个月,ACDF组和LAMP组的VAS评分均明显降低,且ACDF组明显低于LAMP组（P<0.01）;术后12个月,ACDF组和LAMP组的JOA评分均明显增加,且ACDF组明显高于LAMP组（P<0.01）。结论 与LAMP相比,ACDF治疗MCSM在维持颈椎曲度、减缓疼痛以及神经功能恢复方面效果更佳。     

保留半侧肌肉韧带的微型钛板固定颈椎单开门椎管扩大椎板成形术治疗多节段脊髓型颈椎病

目的 探讨保留半侧肌肉韧带的微型钛板固定颈椎单开门椎管扩大椎板成形术治疗多节段脊髓型颈椎病（MCSM）的临床疗效。方法 回顾性分析2010年2月—2018年1月在重庆市中医骨科医院接受微型钛板固定颈椎单开门椎管扩大椎板成形术治疗的59例MCSM患者临床资料,其中28例保留颈椎半侧肌肉韧带（保留组）,31例未保留颈椎半侧肌肉韧带（非保留组）。测量2组患者椎板开门角度、脊髓后漂移距离、颈椎活动度（ROM）及颈椎曲度等影像学参数。记录2组患者术中情况、日本骨科学会（JOA）评分、疼痛视觉模拟量表（VAS）评分以及术后并发症发生情况。结果 保留组手术时间、术中出血量较非保留组高,住院天数短于非保留组,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。2组椎板开门角度和脊髓向后平均漂移距离差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。末次随访时,保留组ROM丢失较非保留组少;保留组颈椎曲度维持良好,非保留组颈椎曲度较术前明显减少;差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。2组JOA评分及其改善率差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）,但保留组颈部VAS评分改善程度较非保留组显著,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。2组患者无感染、再关门及脊髓损伤等严重并发症出现,保留组轴性症状发生率显著低于非保留组,差异有统计学意义（10.7% vs.22.5%,P<0.05）。结论 保留半侧肌肉韧带的微型钛板固定颈椎单开门椎管扩大椎板成形术治疗MCSM可取得与传统手术相似的神经减压效果,虽然手术步骤增加,但有利于减少轴性症状的发生和颈椎曲度的丢失。     

颈椎前路椎间盘切除融合术治疗神经根型颈椎病

目的 探讨颈椎前路椎间盘切除融合术（ACDF）治疗神经根型颈椎病（CSR）的临床疗效。方法 2017年6月—2019年6月,采用ACDF治疗CSR患者43例,患者病程为8~28个月,病变位于C_4,5节段12例、C_5,6节段14例、C_6,7节段11例、C₇~T₁节段6例。评估并比较术前及术后3、6个月颈椎功能障碍指数（NDI）及颈部和上肢疼痛视觉模拟量表（VAS）评分;测量并比较术前及术后3、6个月颈椎曲度（C_2-7 Cobb角）、椎间高度和颈椎活动度（ROM）,观察并发症发生情况。结果 所有患者术后颈椎曲度、NDI、颈部和上肢疼痛VAS评分均较术前改善,差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）;椎间高度、颈椎ROM与术前相比,差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）。发生脑脊液漏2例,术后血肿及感染2例。结论 ACDF治疗CSR可取得较好的疗效,其可改善颈椎曲度,恢复神经功能。     

颈椎后路单侧显露通道辅助下椎管扩大椎板成形术治疗颈椎退行性疾病

目的 评价颈椎后路单侧显露通道辅助下椎管扩大椎板成形术治疗颈椎退行性疾病的临床效果。方法 2020年9月—2021年11月,采用椎管扩大椎板成形术治疗颈椎退行性疾病患者64例,其中36例采用颈椎后路单侧显露通道辅助进行手术（通道组）,28例采用传统后路进行手术（对照组）。记录2组患者手术时间、住院时间、术中出血量、术后引流量等指标及并发症发生情况。于术前、术后即刻、术后2个月及末次随访时采用疼痛视觉模拟量表（VAS）评分评估颈部和上肢疼痛程度,采用颈椎功能障碍指数（NDI）和日本骨科学会（JOA）评分评估神经功能状况。结果 所有手术顺利完成。所有患者随访3~16个月,平均7.8个月。术后未发生神经损伤、感染等并发症。2组手术时间、住院时间差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）。通道组术中出血量和术后引流量均明显小于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。末次随访时2组颈痛VAS评分均较术前显著改善,且术后即刻、术后2个月通道组颈痛VAS评分低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。2组术后各时间点上肢痛VAS评分、NDI及JOA评分均较术前明显改善,差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）;各时间点组间差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）。结论 与常规术式相比,颈椎后路单侧显露通道辅助下椎管扩大椎板成形术能有效减轻铰链侧肌肉和韧带损伤,减少术中出血量、术后引流量及降低术后早期轴性颈痛发生率。     

单纯前路与前后联合入路治疗退变性多节段脊髓型颈椎病的对比研究

目的 比较前路多节段（≥3）颈椎间盘切除椎管减压植骨融合内固定（ACDF）与后路单开门椎管扩大成形（ELAP）联合ACDF治疗伴颈椎后凸、巨大椎间盘突出的退变性多节段脊髓型颈椎病的疗效。方法 回顾性分析2014年1月至2019年1月于我院接受多节段ACDF或ELAP联合ACDF治疗的41例合并颈椎后凸畸形、巨大椎间盘突出的退变性多节段脊髓型颈椎病病人的临床资料,根据手术方式分为单纯前路组（21例）和前后联合入路组（20例）,单纯前路组21例,男10例,女11例,年龄为（52.10±5.96）岁。前后联合入路组20例,男12例,女8例,年龄为（53.23±5.12）岁。记录病人手术时间、术中出血量、住院时间、疼痛视觉模拟量表（visual analogue scale,VAS）评分、日本骨科协会（Japanese Orthopedic Association,JOA）评分、Nurick评分、C_2-7 Cobb角、局部后凸角（RK）、C_2-7矢状面垂直轴（SVA）。结果 前后联合入路组手术时间、出血量大于单纯前路组（P＜0.05）。两组住院时间的差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。末次随访,两组VAS评分、Nurick评分均小于术前,JOA评分大于术前,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;前后联合入路组VAS评分、Nurick评分小于单纯前路组,JOA评分、JOA改善率大于单纯前路组,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。两组C_2-7 Cobb角、RK均大于术前（P＜0.05）,C_2-7 SVA与术前比较,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。两组C_2-7 Cobb角、RK、C_2-7 SVA比较,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。结论 多节段ACDF、ELAP联合ACDF治疗合并颈椎后凸畸形、巨大椎间盘突出的退变性多节段脊髓型颈椎病均可显著改善病人的临床症状及颈椎曲度。与多节段ACDF比较,ELAP联合ACDF虽然手术创伤大但术式更安全,病人的临床症状效果改善更好。     

后路单开门短节段侧块螺钉内固定结合"锚定法"椎管扩大椎板成形术治疗不稳定型脊髓型颈椎病

目的 探讨后路单开门短节段侧块螺钉内固定结合“锚定法”椎管扩大椎板成形术治疗不稳定型脊髓型颈椎病（CSM）的临床疗效。方法 回顾性分析2014年1月—2016年1月采用短节段侧块螺钉内固定结合“锚定法”椎管扩大椎板成形术治疗的35例不稳定型CSM患者（A组）临床资料,并与同期采用微型钛板内固定结合椎管扩大椎板成形术治疗27例不稳定型CSM患者（B组）临床资料进行比较。记录并比较2组手术时间、术中出血量、术后引流量等临床指标及手术前后颈椎曲度、颈椎活动度（ROM）、椎管矢状径及扩大率、椎管横截面积、脊髓后移距离等影像学参数,采用日本骨科学会（JOA）评分、疼痛视觉模拟量表（VAS）评分及颈椎功能障碍指数（NDI）评估疗效,并观察术后轴性症状、C₅神经根麻痹、椎板“再关门”等并发症发生情况。结果 所有手术顺利完成。2组随访时间、术中出血量、术后引流量组间比较差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）。手术时间B组长于A组,末次随访时颈椎ROM A组优于B组,差异均有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。末次随访时,2组颈椎曲度、颈椎ROM、椎管矢状径、椎管横截面积、JOA评分、VAS评分、NDI较术前明显改善,差异均有统计学意义（P < 0.05）;颈椎曲度、椎管扩大率、椎管横截面积、脊髓后移距离、JOA评分、VAS评分、NDI组间比较差异均无统计学意义（P > 0.05）。A组术后发生轴性症状2例,并发症发生率为5.71%（2/35）;B组术后发生轴性症状5例、C₅神经根麻痹2例,并发症发生率为25.93%（7/27）;2组术后均未发生椎板“再关门”;并发症发生率组间比较差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。结论 后路单开门短节段侧块螺钉内固定结合“锚定法”椎管扩大椎板成形术治疗不稳定型CSM,可明显改善患者脊髓功能,维持颈椎曲度及稳定性,降低并发症发生率,临床疗效满意。     

连续式和跳跃式颈椎前路椎间盘切除融合术治疗多节段颈椎病

目的探讨连续式和跳跃式颈椎前路椎间盘切除融合术(ACDF)治疗多节段颈椎病的疗效及安全性。方法回顾性分析2013年1月-2018年12月收治的经非手术治疗无效的78例多节段颈椎病患者临床资料,其中36例采用跳跃式ACDF治疗(观察组),42例采用连续式ACDF治疗(对照组)。比较2组手术时间、术中出血量、住院时间等临床指标及并发症发生情况。记录2组C_2~7活动度(ROM)、矢状位垂直距离(SVA)、T₁倾斜角、植骨融合率、邻近及中间保留节段椎间盘退行性变加重率等影像学指标。采用日本骨科学会(JOA)评分及JOA评分改善率评估神经功能改善情况。结果所有手术顺利完成。所有患者随访8~19个月,中位随访时间为13个月。观察组手术时间和术中出血量明显少于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P < 0.05);2组住院时间差异无统计学意义(P > 0.05)。2组术后各随访时间点JOA评分均较术前改善,差异有统计学意义(P < 0.05),组间差异无统计学意义(P > 0.05);2组JOA评分改善率差异无统计学意义(P > 0.05)。2组术后12周C_2~7 ROM较术前降低,SVA及T₁倾斜角较术前增加,差异均有统计学意义(P < 0.05),组间差异无统计学意义(P > 0.05);末次随访时C_2~7 ROM、SVA及T₁倾斜角均较术后12周有所改善,接近术前水平。2组植骨融合率、邻近及中间节段椎间盘退行性变加重率比较,差异无统计学意义(P > 0.05)。2组植骨融合率、邻近及中间节段椎间盘退行性变加重率差异无统计学意义(P > 0.05)。观察组术后发生吞咽困难2例、声音嘶哑1例,并发症发生率为8.33%;对照组术后发生吞咽困难2例,并发症发生率为4.76%;组间差异无统计学意义(P > 0.05)。结论跳跃式ACDF用于经非手术治疗无效的多节段颈椎病患者可获得与连续式ACDF相近的术后疗效及安全性,并能够有效缩短手术时间,减少术中医源性创伤。     

Outpatient anterior cervical discectomy and fusion

The study reported here examined patient safety and satisfaction in 56 patients with cervical radiculopathy secondary to foraminal stenosis or a herniated disc who underwent a total of 58 outpatient anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) procedures with iliac crest bone graft or fibular allograft. Patients were discharged 0.8 hour to 6.5 hours (mean, 2.4 hours) after surgery and received 3 home health care visits over 24 hours. Of the 45 satisfaction questionnaires that were completed, 43 (95.6%) indicated patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the surgery, and 35 (77.8%) indicated patients would have the procedure performed on an outpatient basis again. Eleven (19.6%) of the 56 patients did not respond to a satisfaction questionnaire. Outpatient ACDF has high patient satisfaction but does not compromise patient safety.     

改良颈椎前路单椎体次全切除融合术并单节段颈椎前路椎间盘切除融合术治疗多节段脊髓型颈椎病

目的 探讨改良颈椎前路单椎体次全切除融合术(ACCF)并单节段颈椎前路椎间盘切除融合术(ACDF)治疗连续3节段椎间盘突出并椎管狭窄的脊髓型颈椎病(CSM)的可行性、安全性和有效性.方法 2010—2018年本院收治3节段椎间盘突出并椎管狭窄的CSM患者379例,其中133例采用传统单节段ACCF并ACDF治疗,并以长...     

前路椎间盘切除减压融合与椎体次全切除减压融合治疗多节段颈椎病疗效比较

目的比较前路椎间盘减压融合(ACDF)与前路椎体次全切除减压融合(ACCF)治疗多节段颈椎病的效果。方法将138例多节段脊髓型颈椎病患者按照治疗方式的不同分为观察组(行ACDF治疗)和对照组(行ACCF治疗),比较两组手术时间、术中出血量、术后住院时间、术前与术后6个月颈椎总活动度、颈椎曲度、颈椎节段性高度及JOA评分。结果手术时间:观察组(128.3±32.4)min,对照组(163.2±43.6)min;术中出血量:观察组(161.4±122.5)ml,对照组(319.2±308.7)ml;以上指标观察组均少于对照组(P0.05)。术后住院时间:观察组(8.1±3.6)d,对照组(9.5±4.2)d;术后6个月时JOA评分:观察组(12.1±2.2)分,对照组(11.7±2.1)分;颈椎总活动度:观察组26.6°±7.3°,对照组30.5°±8.1°;以上指标两组间差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。术后颈椎曲度:观察组23.5°±7.4°,对照组16.1°±7.2°;椎间节段性高度:观察组5.6°±0.4°,对照组4.7°±0.8°;以上指标两组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论 ACDF较ACCF手术时间短、术中出血量少、颈椎生理弯曲和椎间节段高度恢复更好。     

椎体次全切除与椎间隙减压治疗多节段颈椎病的疗效比较

目的 比较椎体次全切除减压植骨融合术(anterior cervical corpectomy with fusion,ACCF)和经椎间隙减压植骨融合术(anterior cervical discectomy with fusion,ACDF)治疗多节段颈椎病的临床疗效及影像学结果.方法 回顾性分析2002年6月～...     

Increased fusion rates with cervical plating for two-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of all patients surgically treated with a two-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with and without anterior plate fixation by a single surgeon. OBJECTIVES: To compare the clinical and radiographic success of two-level discectomy and the effect of anterior cervical plate fixation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Prior studies of multisegment fusions have shown decreased fusion rates correlating with the number of increased levels. The use of anterior plates for single-level cervical fusions is controversial. However, their use in multilevel fusions may be warranted because of the increased pseudarthrosis rates. METHODS: Over a 6-year period, 60 patients were treated surgically with a two-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion by the senior author. Thirty-two patients had cervical plates, and 28 underwent fusions without plates. These patients were followed for an average of 2.7 years. Clinical and radiographic follow-up evaluations were performed. RESULTS: Of the 60 patients, 7 had a pseudarthrosis. The pseudarthrosis rates were 0% for patients with plating and 25% for those with no plating. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.003). No correlation of pseudarthrosis with gender, age, level of surgery, history of tobacco use, or the presence of prior anterior surgery was found. There was significantly less graft collapse (P = 0.0001) in the patients without plates in whom pseudarthrosis developed (1.4 mm) than in those who had fusions with plates (0.3 mm). The amount of kyphotic deformity of the fused segment was 0.4 degree in patients with plating compared with 4.9 degrees in those without plating who developed a pseudarthrosis (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of plate fixation for two-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is a safe procedure with no significant increase in complication rates. The pseudarthrosis rates are significantly higher in patients treated without plate fixation. No nonunions occurred in the patients treated with plate fixation. There was significantly less disc space collapse and kyphotic deformity with the plated fusions than with the nonplated fusions, in which a pseudarthrosis developed. The complication rates for plated fusions are extremely low and do not differ from those for nonplated fusions.     

Increased fusion rates with cervical plating for three-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of all patients surgically treated by a single surgeon with a three-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with and without anterior plate fixation. OBJECTIVES: To compare the clinical and radiographic success of anterior three-level discectomy and fusion performed with and without anterior cervical plate fixation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Previous studies of multilevel cervical discectomies and fusions have shown fusion rates to decrease as the number of surgical levels increases. Anterior cervical plate stabilization can provide more stability and may increase fusion rates for multilevel fusions. METHODS: Over a 7-year period, 59 patients were treated surgically with a three-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion by the senior author. Forty patients had cervical plates, whereas 19 had fusions with no plates. These patients were observed for an average of 3.2 years. Clinical and radiographic follow-up data were obtained. RESULTS: Of the 59 patients, 14 had a pseudarthrosis (7 in each group). The pseudarthrosis rates were 18% (7 of 40) for patients with plating and 37% (7 of 19) for patients with no plating. Although the nonunion rate for unplated fusions was double that of plated fusions, this difference was not statistically significant. There was no statistically significant correlation between pseudarthrosis and gender, age, level of surgery, history of tobacco use, or previous anterior surgery. The fusion rates were improved with the use of a cervical plate. Inferior clinical results were demonstrated in patients with a pseudarthrosis, regardless of the use of a cervical plate. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of plate fixation for three-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is a safe procedure and does not result in higher complication rates. In this study, the pseudarthrosis rate was lower for patients with a cervical plate. However, this difference was not statistically significant. Patients treated with cervical plating had overall better results when compared with those of patients treated without cervical plates. Although the use of cervical plates decreased the pseudarthrosis rate, a three-level procedure is still associated with a high nonunion rate, and other strategies to increase fusion rates should be explored.     

Outpatient anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.

The study reported here examined patient safety and satisfaction in 56 patients with cervical radiculopathy secondary to foraminal stenosis or a herniated disc who underwent a total of 58 outpatient anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) procedures with iliac crest bone graft or fibular allograft. Patients were discharged 0.8 hour to 6.5 hours (mean, 2.4 hours) after surgery and received 3 home health care visits over 24 hours. Of the 45 satisfaction questionnaires that were completed, 43 (95.6%) indicated patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the surgery, and 35 (77.8%) indicated patients would have the procedure performed on an outpatient basis again. Eleven (19.6%) of the 56 patients did not respond to a satisfaction questionnaire. Outpatient ACDF has high patient satisfaction but does not compromise patient safety.     

Microsurgical anterior cervical discectomy without fusion

Objectives  

Microsurgical anterior exposure and removal of cervical herniated disk without fusion of the involved motion segment to relieve radicular pain and to restore function.     

Success of junctional anterior cervical discectomy and fusion

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Junctional breakdown has long been a consideration for surgeons when performing an arthrodesis in the cervical spine. Numerous authors have reported symptomatic junctional disease after fusion with varying degrees of reoperation. To our knowledge, there are no large series recording the fusion rate using instrumentation as an adjuvant to bone grafting. PURPOSE: To determine the fusion rate when arthrodesis is performed in the setting of junctional stenosis using iliac crest autograft and instrumentation. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: This is a retrospective review performed on patients at the senior author's institution. PATIENT SAMPLE: The patient population consisted of a consecutive series of patients undergoing an elective anterior-only cervical arthrodesis for junctional stenosis. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome is a physiologic measure from dynamic radiographs. Fusion was assessed by the absence of motion and radiolucent lines at the bone graft interface. METHODS: During the study period, a total of 56 consecutive patients underwent anterior treatment for junctional cervical stenosis. Forty-nine of these patients were treated with an anterior discectomy and instrumented arthrodesis using iliac crest autograft, and seven underwent a corpectomy. We retrospectively reviewed the patients' charts and radiographs to determine the fusion rate. RESULTS: A solid fusion was obtained in 81.6% of patients in the study group. In patients undergoing a single-level arthrodesis adjacent to a one-level fusion, the fusion rate was 95.2%. The fusion rate significantly dropped in patients with longer preexisting fusion segments. In patients with a two- or three-level fusions preoperatively, the union rate was 81.3% and 57.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Anterior cervical discectomy and arthrodesis yields a high fusion rate for cervical stenosis adjacent to a single-level fusion. A multilevel preexisting fusion segment leads to a significant decline in successfully achieving a solid adjacent fusion despite using iliac crest autograft and instrumentation.