Abstract
Introduction
The anchored cervical intersomatic cages made in PEEK is a new promising alternative to anterior cervical locking plates with autologous iliac bone graft for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. The advantage of such devices is the lack of profile and can provide the stability needed to achieve the arthrodesis.
Objectives
This study aims to evaluate the outcomes and fusion rates of the anchored intersomatic cage for achieving a stable arthrodesis and compare this result with established fixation methods. The hypothesis is that this device would be associated with low short-term complications and dysphagia, and could achieve a solid fusion and maintains the pain relief.
Patients and Methods
This was a comparative study in a single center, 50 patients were enrolled; 25 patients who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with autologous bone graft and locking plate and 25 patients with cervical intersomatic cage with heterologous bone graft. The clinical features Neck and Pain Disability Index; radicular pain, neck pain, and patient satisfaction were evaluated with VAS; and dysphagia scores were recorded preoperative and postoperative. Radiographs evaluated the height of intervertebral disc, implant position, and cervical Cobb angle. All patients had a minimum follow-up of 12 months.
Results
In all the patients, we found that a stable arthrodesis was achieved; the neck pain and radicular pain significantly reduces after surgery, without change after 1 year of follow-up. We do not have any chronic dysphagia and only one patient complained of minor dysphagia that improved in 2 weeks.
Conclusions
The cervical-anchored intersomatic cages are new surgical alternative with good functional outcomes, low-complication rates, and better postoperative patient comfort. We think that this is a preliminary assessment and prospective randomized trials are necessary to confirm this observation.