Anterior cervical reconstruction using titanium cages with anterior plating

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Spinal Surgery
• Biomaterials in Medicine

Background:

• Anterior cervical reconstruction is standard for cervical spondylosis.
• Iliac crest autografts have donor site morbidity; allografts risk pseudarthrosis.
• Existing methods face challenges like graft collapse and extrusion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy and safety of titanium cages with anterior plating for cervical reconstruction.
• To compare this technique against traditional bone grafting methods.

Main Methods:

• A preliminary study involving 34 patients undergoing channel corpectomy and titanium cage implantation.
• Anterior cervical plating was used in 30 patients for multi-level fusions.
• Follow-up included clinical examination and radiography over 24–56 months (average 32 months).

Main Results:

• 97% radiographic fusion achieved by 6 months post-surgery.
• 88% of patients experienced no complications (cage dislodgment or hardware failure).
• Minor complications included pseudarthrosis, cage extrusion, kyphosis, and radiculopathy in 4 patients.

Conclusions:

• Titanium cages provide robust anterior column support and minimize graft site morbidity.
• The combination of titanium cages and anterior plating is a safe and effective alternative to autografts for cervical reconstruction.