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Keel-less, shallow-keel implants safe, easy to use in cervical arthroplasty
Researchers analyzed the early clinical and radiographic results of keel-less and shallow-keel cervical disc replacement and found the implants were safe, relatively easy to implant and helped preserve good range of motion in patients.
The single-surgeon, retrospective study included 50 patients, 20 of whom underwent cervical disc replacements and 30 of whom underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) procedures. The researchers compared the functional outcomes, complications, radiographic outcomes and time of surgery between the two groups. Median duration of clinical follow-up was 2 years.
Single-level fusion procedures had an average operating time of 2.4 hours, and single-level disc replacement procedures had an average operating time of 2.6 hours. For two-level hybrid surgery (one-level disc replacement and one-level fusion), the average operating time was 3.5 hours, whereas the average operating time for fusion was 3.4 hours. Differences in the duration of surgery between the two surgery types were not considered significant, according to the researchers.
As a result of disc replacement, the researchers observed an average 67% of the angle of motion at the sagittal plane was preserved, with an average range of motion of 6.1°. Additionally, no major complications or significant neurovascular injuries in the patients were reported.
SF-36 scores improved significantly, from 57 preoperatively to 92 at 3 months, and the improvement was sustained up to 4 years.
The researchers concluded cervical disc replacement may likely have an important role in the future for treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease. – by Robert Linnehan
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.