Objective To study the cl inical appl ication of anchoring cervical intervertebral fusion cage (ACIFC) in anterior cervical discectomy with fusion. Methods From November 2006 to June 2007, 21 cases of degenerative cervical disease were treated with anterior cervical discectomy, bone graft by ACIFC and anchoring stators, and 28 ACIFCs were implanted. There were 12 males and 9 females aged 25-68 years old (average 47.9 years old). The course of disease rangedfrom 3 days to15 years (median 2.3 years). There were 7 patients with single-segment cervical spondylosis, 3 with two-segment cervical spondylosis, 2 with single-segment lower cervical spine instabil ity, 4 with single-segment cervical spondylosis and lower cervical spine instabil ity, and 5 with cervical disc herniation. Postoperatively, X-ray films were taken regularly to detect the fusion of bone graft and the intervertebral height of fused segment was measured. The symptoms, signs and cervical functions of patient before operation, shortly after operation and during the follow-up period were evaluated by “40 score” system. And the occurrence of postoperative axial symptom (AS) was assessed with the standard set by Zeng Yan et al. Results All incisions healed by first intention. AS occurred in 1 case 48 hours after operation and was improved from poor to good after symptomatic treatment. No other kind of compl ication was identified or reported during intra-operative and postoperative period. All the cases were followed up for 16-24 months (average 20.5 months), and fusion was reached in all the intervertebral discs. Evaluated by “40 score” system, the average score for the cervical spinal cord function before operation, shortly after operation and during the final follow-up period was 26.2, 30.6, and 35.5 points, respectively, indicating there were significant differences between different time points (P lt; 0.05). During the follow-up period of above 1 year, the average improvement rate was 67.4%. The average intervertebral height before operation, shortly after operation and during the last follow-up period were 1.9, 4.4 and 4.3 mm, respectively, showing there were significant differences between the preoperation and the immediate postoperative and last follow-up periods (P lt; 0.05). No degeneration of adjacent segment was observed during the follow-up period. Conclusion Using ACIFC in bone graft fusion and internal fixation for degenerative cervical disease is convenientand fast, has wide range of indications with satisfying cl inical effect, and can achieve obvious therapeutic effect in restoring and maintaining cervical intervertebral height.
Objective To study the cl inical appl ication of Mobi-C prosthesis in treatment of anterior cervical discectomy and artificial disc replacement (ADR). Methods Between January 2009 and June 2009, 20 cases of degenerative cervical disease were treated with anterior discectomy and ADR by Mobi-C prosthesis, including 13 cases of cervical disc herniation and 7 cases of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy, and 25 Mobi-C prosthesis were implanted. There were 8 males and 12 females, aged 29-54 years (mean, 45.2 years). The disease duration was from 4 days to 5 years (mean, 1.2 years). Affected segments of process included C3, 4 in 1 case, C4, 5 in 2 cases, C5, 6 in 7 cases, C6, 7 in 5 cases, C4, 5 and C5, 6 in 2 cases, and C5, 6 and C6, 7 in 3 cases. Radiographs were taken regularly, and cervical range of motion (ROM) on segments of disc replacements were measured. The functions of cervical spinal cord were evaluated by “40 score” system (COA) preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and at follow-up. The qual ity of l ife was evaluated by neck disabil ity index (NDI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) score. Results All incisions healed by first intention. No perioperative compl ication was found. All cases were followed up 16.5 months on average (range, 14-18 months). There was no significant difference in cervical ROM of operatied segment between preoperation and follow-up duration (t=0.808，P=0.440). No heterotopic ossification was found at follow-up. COA score at last follow-up (38.20 ± 1.14) was significantly higher than preoperative one (32.10 ± 2.96) , (t=9.278，P=0.000) , and the improvement rate at last follow-up was 77.2% ± 5.4%. VAS score at last follow-up (3.20 ± 1.23) had significant difference when compared with preoperative one (5.10 ± 1.29), (t=10.585，P=0.000). NDI score at last follow-up (29.40 ± 4.55) had significant difference when compared with preoperative one (39.20 ± 3.80), (t=16.039, P=0.000). Conclusion A satisfactory short-term curative effect can be obtained by using Mobi-C prosthesis in treatment of anterior cervical discectomy and ADR.