Early Outcome Of Three Techniques Of Cervical Fusion In The Treatment Of Cervical Spondylosis

Objective:To investigate the clinical therapeutic effects of different anterior decompression and fusion procedures for the treatment of cervical spondylosis.Methods:Eighty-two patients had anterior cervical surgery were retrospectively reviewed in our study. According to surgerical technique, the patients were divided into three groups:anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) by using Zero-P implant (Group A, n=38), anterior cervical discectomy and fusion by anterior cervical plate system (Group B, n=25) and anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) by anterior cervical plate system (Group C, n=19). The clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score and the visual analog scale (VAS) before and after the surgery. The changes of the midpoint interbody height (IBH), the cervical Cobb angle of the surgical segment and the cervical Cobb angle of C2and C7vertebral body were measured on the standing lateral cervical spine x-ray. Results:As the JOA scores significantly increased and the VAS scores decreased compared with preoperational measurements in all three groups, direct anterior decompressions were thorough and effective. The differences in JOA improvement rate of the three groups were statistically insignificant. The mean change of IBH and the cervical Cobb angle of the affected segment were significant in the Group A.Conclusion:The primary clinical and radiographic efficacies of Zero-profile device were satisfactory, Zero-profile device is a valuable alternative to the anterior cervical surgery. In order to draw a better conclusion, more patients and longer follow-up are demanded.