Clinical Study Of A Zero-Profile Interbody Fixation And Fusion System In The Anterior Surgery Of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

Background: Cervical myelopathy is one of the most common spinal disorders in theclinical field. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is considered the gold standardsurgical treatment for single level diseases. Several studies suggest fusion rates arehigher with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion procedures if supplemented witha plate. However, plates may be associated with higher postoperative morbidity. Thisled to the development of a novel stand-alone cage with integrated fixation forzero-profile segmental stabilization.Objective: To compare the clinical outcome of a novel Zero profile interbody fixationand fusion system and the traditional anterior cervical plate combine with cage for thetreatment of cervical myelopathy.Methods:36cases with single level cervical myelopathy from January2010toJanuary2012were treated with the Zero profile interbody fixation and fusion systemfollowing anterior cervical decompression.32cases were treated with traditionaltitanium plate and cage. The operation time, blood loss, clinical efficacy, perioperativecomplications, spine fusion and the height of vertebral bodies were compared andanalyzed retrospectively. The neurological function at preoperation and the follow-upperiods were evaluated by JOA scores. The fusion rates were assessed retrospectivelyby radiographs. Results: All patients were followed up for3to20months, with an average of11.5months. There were no statistical differences of preoperative data between Zero-P andtraditional plate combined with cage groups. The duration time of operation and bloodloss of Zero-P group were significantly less than that of plate group, respectively.However, there were no significant differences of JOA scores between the two groups.The fusion rate and the height of vertebral bodies were similar between the twogroups.Conclusion: This novel Zero profile interbody fixation and fusion system is a goodchoice for the anterior cervical spine surgery, which has advantages such as goodclinical outcome, solid spinal fusion and low incidence of complications.