Orthopaedic Surgery (Nov 2022)

Is Anterior Trans‐Intervertebral Space Decompression Important in Treating Cervical Spondylosis with Severe Intervertebral Space Narrowing? A Retrospective Cohort Study

  • Min Qi,
  • Xiaolong Shen,
  • Huiqiao Wu,
  • Baifeng Sun,
  • Peng Cao,
  • Ye Tian,
  • Xiaodong Wu,
  • Yu Chen,
  • Yang Liu,
  • Wen Yuan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/os.13489
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 11
pp. 2863 – 2870

Abstract

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Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and practicality of anterior trans‐intervertebral space decompression and fusion (ATIDF) by comparing radiological and clinical outcomes between ATIDF and traditional anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) in cervical spondylosis patients with severe disc space narrowing. Methods Seventy‐one cervical spondylosis patients with severe disc space narrowing underwent anterior cervical spine surgery were included in this retrospective study. Thirty‐seven patients underwent ATIDF and 34 patients underwent ACCF. The neck disability index (NDI), Japan Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score and the Hirabayashi improvement rate were used to evaluate patient neurological status. Cervical sagittal alignment (C2–C7 Cobb angle), surgical segment sagittal alignment (Cobb angle of surgical segment) and disc space height were also compared between the two groups. Results There were 39 males and 32 females; mean age was 63.72 ± 6.36 years (range, 39–81 years). Mean follow‐up was 22.4 months (range, 6–45 months). All patients achieved an adequate neurological improvement. There were no significant differences in NDI, JOA scores and Hirabayashi improvement rate between the two groups. The change of C2–7 Cobb angle and surgical segment Cobb angle were both greater in the ATIDF group. The average intervertebral height ratio of the patients in the ATIDF group increased significantly after surgery (0.38 ± 0.17 before surgery to 1.13 ± 0.32 after surgery, P < 0.01). The overall complication rate was lower in the ATIDF group than the ACCF group (35.14% and 44.12%). At 6 months follow‐up, three patients in the ACCF group presented with subsidence of the titanium mesh cage. Conclusion ATIDF is an effective technique for treating cervical spondylosis with severe disc space narrowing; it can achieve adequate decompression and improve sagittal alignment while avoiding and reducing the implant‐related complications inherent to traditional ACCF.

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