Four Levels Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion by Stand Alone PEEK Cages

Abstract

Background: cervical spondylotic myelopathy is a common health problem that neurosurgeons face in Egypt. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of PEEK cage only in 4 levels anterior cervical discectomy as one of surgical option other than anterior cervical corpectomy, fixation by plat or posterior approach for cervical laminectomy, and assessment of post spinal surgery pain. Methods: this prospective study on 28 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) over a period of 3 years (between April 2012 and April 2015) with mean period of follow up 30 months. We have done anterior cervical discectomy with fixation by cage only for all cases with perioperative assessment and scoring clinically and radiologically (Japanese Orthopaedic Association [JOA] scores, Visual Analogue Scale [VAS] scores for assessment of neck and arm pain, perioperative parameters (hospital stay, blood loss, operative time), the European Myelopathy Scoring (EMS) and Odom's criteria, and the incidence of complication,post spinal surgery pain assessment). Results: clinical outcome was excellent (28.55), good (50%) and fair (21.5) according to Odom criteria. The European Myelopathy Scoring (EMS), improved from 10 to 16. The mean JOA score improved from 10.1 ± 2.1 to 14.2 ± 2.3. Fusion failure had been seen in 4 patients in one level for each secondary to anterior displacement of the cage with no other major complications. Conclusion: 4 levels anterior cervical discectomy with PEEK cage only is an effective, save and less costly with less post operative complication and hospital stay and less post spinal surgery pain.