Single-stage anterior-posterior decompression and stabilization for complex cervical spine disorders

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Spinal Surgery

Background:

• Complex cervical spine disorders require effective surgical interventions.
• Traditional anterior or posterior approaches may have limitations in achieving stability and fusion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a single-stage combined anterior-posterior decompression and fusion technique.
• To assess the applicability of this combined approach for various complex cervical spine pathologies.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 72 patients undergoing single-stage combined anterior-posterior decompression and fusion.
• Procedures included anterior cervical corpectomies with allograft fibula and plates, followed by lateral mass plating with autograft fusion.
• Patients were followed for a minimum of 2 years postoperatively.

Main Results:

• 100% fusion success rate in all 72 patients.
• Short-term morbidity was 32%, with a significantly lower long-term morbidity rate of 5%.
• No cases of nerve root injury, graft extrusion, or plate/screw fracture; no revision surgeries were required.

Conclusions:

• Single-stage combined anterior-posterior surgery is a viable option for select complex cervical spine disorders.
• This technique provides immediate rigid stabilization and a higher fusion rate compared to anterior-only approaches.
• It effectively prevents complications like plate failure or graft extrusion and eliminates the need for halo immobilization.