OBJECTIVES: To analyze the clinical and radiological results of a series of patients undergoing anterior cervical arthrodesis with cage and plate. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of series of patients undergoing anterior cervical arthrodesis with cage and plate between 2004 and 2009. Review of medical records and radiographs, record of age, sex, diagnosis, level operated on, complications, clinical and radiological revision. Surgical technique of Smith-Robinson. The cages were filled with bone substitutes. Walking occurred 12 hours after surgery, hospital discharge at 48 hours, intermittent cervical collar for 2 weeks. Clinical assessment by Odom criteria. Follow up from 17 to 78 months. RESULTS: Diagnosis: cervical herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP), 44 (71%), myelopathy, 11 (17.7%), fracture 7 (11.3%). Level 1: 44 (71%), Level 2: 15 (24.2%), Level 3 (4.8%). The C5-C6 level included 92% of the cases. Radicular pain relief: 60 (97%). Recovery of neurological deficit: 59 (95.2%). Relief of myelopathy: 8/11 patients (73%). Neck Pain Relief: 56 (90%). Clinical Results: 91.9% excellent and good. Complications (12.9%): four transient dysphagias (6.5%), one permanent dysphagia (1.6%), two transient dysphonias (3.3%), one subsidence with of the implant and asymptomatic plaque fracture (1.6%). No pseudoarthrosis. CONCLUSIONS: This series presents good clinical results with pain relief and neurological recovery comparable to those found in the literature. The use of intersomatic cage avoid complications in the donor site and when it is associated with anterior cervical plate fixation allows immediate intersomatic fixation, providing adequate structural support, with good results and no long-term complications.
Spine; Spinal fusion; Bone substitutes
