A Comparison Of Anterior Cervical Zero-profile Interbody Fusion Device And Anterior Cervical Plate Cage Benezech In Treating Cervical Spondylosis

Objective:To compare the efficacy between anterior cervical Zero-profile interbody fusion system (Zero-P) and anterior cervical plate interbody fusion device (plate cage benez-ech, PCB) for cervical spondylosis.Methods:From February 2011 to January 2013,98 patients with cervical spondylosis who accorded with the inclusion criteria were treated with anterior cervical disectomoy and fusion (ACDF).49 cases (group A) and 49 cases (group B). Patients in group A were with Zero-P treatment, group B were treated with PCB. There was no significant differe-ce in gender, age, type, disease duration, and disease segments between 2 groups (P>0.05). The patients were followed up for 3 to 36 months. The postoperative cervical Cobb angle, short-form 36 health survey scale (SF-36 scale), Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, dysphagia, neck disability index (NDI), and visual analogue scale (VAS) were compared between 2 groups.Results:Surgery time and blood loss was less in group A than in group B (t=4.089, P= 0.000; t=3.587, P=0.001). The patients were followed up for 3 to 36 months (mean, 18.5 months). There were 2 patients who were found to have screw loosing at 3 months follow-up, other patients did not have screw loose or breaking of internal fixation and bone absorption or collapse, prolapse, embed intervertebral foramen or spinal canal and so on. Within 6 months postoperative, dysphagia occured in 8 cases (16.33%) of group A and in 13 cases (26.53%) of group B, the difference was statistically signficant (x2= 10.616, P=0.001). At last follow-up, JOA score, VAS score, NDI, SF-36 scale, Cobb angle were significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones in 2 groups (P< 0.05). At last follow-up, in addition to SF-36 scale and Cobb angle difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P> 0.05), the other indicators are better in group A than in group B (P< 0.05). In the last follow-up, the excellent rate for patients treated with Zero-P plate (81.6%) was statistically significant greater than those using PCB (71.4%). Significant difference was seen between two groups. (χ2= 4.346, P=0.037).Conclusion:Both Zero-P and PCB can get good results in treating cervical spondylosis, but the Zero-P is better than PCB in reducing postoperative dysphagia because of small wounds and strong stability.