STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled study of patients with lateral cervical disc herniations, operated either in a full-endoscopic posterior or conventional microsurgical anterior technique.
OBJECTIVE: Comparison of results of cervical discectomies in full-endoscopic posterior foraminotomy technique with the conventional microsurgical anterior decompression and fusion.
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Anterior cervical decompression and fusion is the standard procedure for operation of cervical disc herniations with radicular arm pain. Mobility-preserving posterior foraminotomy is the most common alternative in the case of lateral localization of the pathology. Despite good clinical results, problems may arise due to traumatization of the access. Endoscopic techniques are considered standard in many areas, since they may offer advantages in surgical technique and rehabilitation. These days, all disc herniations of the lumbar spine can be operated in full-endoscopic technique. With the full-endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy a procedures is available for cervical disc operations.
METHODS: One hundred and seventy-five patients with full-endoscopic posterior or microsurgical anterior cervical discectomy underwent follow-up for 2 years. In addition to general and specific parameters, the following measuring instruments were used: VAS, German version North American Spine Society Instrument, Hilibrand Criteria.
RESULTS: After surgery 87.4% of the patients no longer had arm pain, and 9.2% had occasional pain. The clinical results were the same in both groups. There were no significant difference between the groups in the revision or complication rate. The full-endoscopic technique brought advantages in operation technique, preserving mobility, rehabilitation, and traumatization.
CONCLUSION: The recorded results show that the full-endoscopic posterior foraminotomy is a sufficient and safe supplement and alternative to conventional procedures when the indication criteria are fulfilled. At the same time, it offers the advantages of a minimally invasive intervention.
The purpose of this paper is to compare the new functional intervertebral cervical disc prosthesis replacement and the classical interbody fusion operation, including the clinical effect and maintenance of the stability and segmental motion of cervical vertebrae. Twenty-four patients with single C5-6 intervertebral disk hernias were specifically selected and divided randomly into two groups: One group underwent artificial cervical disc replacement and the other group received interbody fusion. All patients were followed up and evaluated. The operation time for the single disc replacement was (130 +/- 50) minutes and interbody fusion was (105 +/- 53) minutes. Neurological or vascular complications were not observed during or after operation. There was no prosthesis subsidence or extrusion. The JOA score of the group with prosthesis replacement increased from an average of 8.6 to 15.8. The JOA score of the group with interbody fusion increased from an average of 9 to 16.2. The clinical effect and the ROM of the adjacent space of the two groups showed no statistical difference. The short follow-up time does not support the advantage of the cervical disc prosthesis. The clinical effect and the maintenance of the function of the motion of the intervertebral space are no better than the interbody fusion. At least 5 years of follow-up is needed to assess the long-term functionality of the prosthesis and the influence on adjacent levels.
INTRODUCTION: Nonautologous interbody fusion materials are utilised in increasing numbers after anterior cervical disc surgery to overcome the problem of donor site morbidity of autologous bone grafts. This study investigates the performance of two nonautologous materials, the bone cement Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and titanium cages. This prospective randomised trial, with assessment of the results by an independent observer, evaluates whether a Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) spacer or a titanium cage provides a better fusion rate around the implant and a better clinical outcome.
PATIENTS/MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 2000 and 2002, 115 patients with monoradicular cervical nerve root compression syndrome caused by soft cervical disc herniation were eligible for this study. Myelopathy, excessive osteophyte formation, and adjacent level degeneration were exclusion criteria. A block-restricted randomisation was applied. The 2-year clinical outcome served as the primary endpoint of the study. Clinical outcome was assessed according to the Odom scale by an independent observer at the follow-up examination. Preoperative, postoperative, and follow-up radiographs were taken.
RESULTS: The study was completed by 107 patients (53 with PMMA and 54 with titanium cage). No significant difference between the two groups could be established with respect to the clinical outcome. In each group, 26 patients scored excellent. Good results were found in 19 PMMA patients and 16 titanium cage patients; satisfactory results were found in 8 PMMA patients and 9 titanium cage patients; bad results were found in 3 titanium cage patients. In 47 titanium cage cases (87%), fusion occurred radiologically as bony bridging around the implant. The fusion rate was significantly lower (p=0.011) in the PMMA group, with 35 cases (66%) united at follow-up.
CONCLUSION: The radiological result of the titanium cage is superior to that of PMMA with respect to the fusion rate. Although the titanium cage achieves a better fusion rate, there is no difference between titanium cages and PMMA with respect to the clinical outcome.
STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective randomized and controlled study, approved by the local ethical committee of Saarland (Germany).
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to analyze segmental motion following artificial disc replacement using disc prosthesis over 1 year. A second aim was to compare both segmental motion as well as clinical result to the current gold standard (anterior cervical discectomy and fusion [ACDF]).
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: ACDF may be considered to be the gold standard for treatment of symptomatic degenerative disc disease within the cervical spine. However, fusion may result in progressive degeneration of the adjacent segments. Therefore, disc arthroplasty has been introduced. Among these, artificial disc replacement seems to be promising. However, segmental motion should be preserved. This, again, is very difficult to judge and has not yet been proven.
METHODS: A total of 49 patients with cervical disc herniation were enrolled and assigned to either study group (receiving a disc prosthesis) or control group (receiving ACDF, using a cage with bone graft and an anterior plate). Roentgen stereometric analysis (RSA) was used to quantify intervertebral motion immediately as well as 3, 6, 12, 24, and 52 weeks after surgery. Also, clinical results were judged using visual analog scale and neuro-examination at even RSA follow-up.
RESULTS: Cervical spine segmental motion decreased over time in the presence of disc prosthesis or fusion device. However, the loss segmental motion is significantly higher in the fusion group, when looked at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 52 weeks after surgery. We observed significant pain reduction in neck and arm after surgery, without significant difference between both groups.
CONCLUSION: Cervical spine disc prosthesis remains cervical spine segmental motion within the first 1 year after surgery. The clinical results are the same when compared with the early results following ACDF.
OBJECT: In a double-blind randomized study, platelet concentrate was used to treat 50 patients who underwent anterior cervical fusion with allograft bone and internal fixation, predominantly for degenerative disc disease or soft herniated cervical disc. The goal in this study was to compare the outcomes in patients treated with and without the platelet gel.
METHODS: Patients were assessed radiographically at 6, 12, and 52 weeks and at 2 years if needed. Clinically, patients were evaluated with the visual analog scale, Neck Disability Index, Short Form-36, and a modified Prolo Scale.
RESULTS: Follow-up included 90% of the patients at 1 year and 84% at 2 years. The overall fusion rate was 84%.
CONCLUSIONS: Whereas patients with degenerative discs treated with platelet gel demonstrated early fusion at the 12-week follow-up interval, no consistent early fusion was obtained with the use of the platelet gel preparation in patients with a soft disc herniation.
Conventional open cervical discectomy, with or without bony fusion, in common neurosurgical knowledge is considered the standard treatment for cervical disc herniation. Percutaneous procedures are minimally invasive and offer decreased morbidity, require no bone graft and promise shorter recuperation time. Nevertheless, candidates for a percutaneous procedure as inclusion criteria must complain of symptoms related to contained herniated disc or focal protrusion. It does not substitute conventional open procedures required for extruded discs. We used the coblation technology for nucleoplasty of the cervical intervertebral discs. Early and long-term effects and/or complications observed with this procedure have not been reported yet. Fifty consecutive patients presenting with contained herniated cervical disc or focal protrusion causing compression of the cervical roots or cervical pain underwent a nucleoplasty procedure on the pathological disc. A randomized control group of twenty patients was treated conservatively with medical and physical therapy in the same period and completed the identical follow-up form. In the nucleoplasty group results were complete resolution of symptoms in 80% of cases, only 10% referred some residual cervical or radicular pain and are still under follow-up with a wait-and-see prospective. Patients who did not have a clinical resolution were treated with alternative traditional methods (10%). Despite the relative low cases number and the limited follow-up the encouraging results induce us to utilize this technique in well-selected cases.
BACKGROUND: Cervical disc herniation causing neurological compromise is a common affliction. Sophisticated surgical treatments have been developed throughout the twentieth century and are largely successful. Although each procedure has its supporters, it is still unclear if one surgical technique is superior.
METHODS: A prospective trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy of three surgical procedures for the treatment of cervical radiculopathy caused by a unilateral acute herniated cervical disc. Patients were randomized to posterior cervical foraminotomy (FOR), and anterior cervical discectomy with (ACDF), and without (ACD) fusion. Perioperative data, office follow-up and long-term follow-up were used to compare the procedures.
RESULTS: All of the procedures yielded excellent relief of symptoms and signs postoperatively and during follow-up. Operative time and hospital stay were slightly shorter for ACD compared with ACDF and FOR. Reoperations occurred in all groups but there was a trend for higher recurrence at the same level with FOR and recurrence at other levels with ACDF.
CONCLUSION: All three of the procedures were successful for treatment of cervical radiculopathy caused by a herniated cervical disc. Although the numbers in this study were small, none of the procedures could be considered superior to the others. This study suggests that the selection of surgical procedure may reasonably be based on the preference of the surgeon and tailored to the individual patient.
We randomized 27 consecutive patients undergoing 1-level cervical disc surgery to surgery with or without anterior plate fixation. The patients were studied with radiostereometry and clinically with visual analogue scores (VAS) for arm and neck pain. After 2 years, 1 patient had developed pseudoarthrosis, all other fusions were healed, but 1 patient showed substantial motions in the fusion area between the 1- and 2-year follow-ups. The 12 patients operated on without a plate had increased rotations around the transverse axis, corresponding to deformation towards kyphosis. Clinically, there was no difference in outcome between the two groups, as assessed by VAS. The use of an anterior plate in 1-level degenerative disc surgery in the cervical spine seems to prevent rotational deformation, without affecting the clinical outcome or fusion healing.
STUDY DESIGN: A prospective randomized trial with assessment of treatment results by an independent observer and by patient questionnaire.
OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated whether implantation of polymethylmethacrylate after anterior cervical discectomy improved clinical results and whether polymethylmethacrylate provided a solid bony union with preservation of anatomical relations of the cervical spine.
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Discectomy without fusion disturbs anatomical relations of the cervical spine. Use of an autologous bone graft frequently causes donor-site complications. Therefore, synthetic materials such as polymethylmethacrylate have been used instead of bone to obtain spinal fusion. Whether these implants improve the clinical results of anterior discectomy is unknown. In addition, the radiological follow-up of discectomy with polymethylmethacrylate has hardly been investigated.
METHODS: Between April, 1986, and April, 1990, all patients with radiologically proven cervical disc pathology and a radicular syndrome were eligible for this study. The primary endpoint of the study was the clinical result after 2 years. Assessment of the result was rated both by an independent observer using Odom's criteria and by the patient using a written questionnaire. Before surgery and during follow-up, radiographs were obtained.
RESULTS: Two patients died during follow up. A good result was obtained in 28 of 42 patients (70%) treated with polymethylmethacrylate and in 30 of 39 patients (77%) of patients treated with discectomy only. Pre-operative neck pain subsided earlier if polymethylmethacrylate was used, but the difference was temporary and clinically insignificant. The use of polymethylmethacrylate resulted in a significant lower bony union rate. Polymethylmethacrylate frequently migrated into adjacent vertebrae.
CONCLUSIONS: No relevant clinical differences between treatments were found. The radiological results of anterior discectomy with polymethylmethacrylate were inferior to those of discectomy only. Based on these results, the use of polymethylmethacrylate to obtain fusion after anterior discectomy is not recommended.