Retrospective analysis of complications in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion using cage

Abstract

Introduction: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is often performed surgery for single and multi-level cervical disc pathology. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate retrospectively the performance of TiPEEK cages, by assessing fusion rate and intra-operative and post-operative complications in patients who underwent ACDF with Mecta-C cervical cage.
Materials and methods: Seventy-eight patients who underwent ACDF using Mecta-C cervical cage alone or combined with plates were reviewed retrospectively for clinical and radiological outcomes. Bone substitute was used in all the cases.
Results: At the time of surgery the mean age of the patients was 48.2±10.1 years (range 26.7 – 75.5). After one year 76 patients underwent a CT scan which proved a complete fusion. At the follow up of 46.5 months±13.7 (range 29 – 70) the clinical outcome was reported to be “excellent”, “very good” or “good” in 47.4%, 29.5% or 14.1% of patients, respectively. Only 7% of the patients reported a “poor” outcome. No adverse effects, neither intra-operative nor post-operative, were observed.
Conclusions: ACDF using Mecta-C cervical cage filled with a bone substitute as a stand-alone device or combined with the Mecta-C cervical plate leads to a complete fusion in all patients one year after surgery. Furthermore, 75% of patients reported satisfying clinical outcomes without any complications or adverse events.