Anterior versus posterior plating in cervical corpectomy

This is a prospective study comparing anterior and posterior plating in cervical corpectomy. Each group comprised 30 patients who were candidates for corpectomy. In the first group, anterior plating was done using Orosco-type titanium plates. In the second group, lateral mass plating was done. In all cases, titanium cages were used to replace the removed vertebral body or bodies. The mean follow-up was 12.68 months (SD 3.85 months). Pseudarthrosis was not encountered in either group. Posterior plating was better than anterior plating in terms of the stability of the construct and problems related to the hardware. Screw breakage was encountered in seven patients with anterior plating (23.33%). This complication was not seen in the group with posterior plating. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (chi-square = 7.92, p = 0.004). Screw loosening was encountered in 2 patients in the group with anterior plating and in only 1 patient in the group with posterior plating. The difference between the incidence of screw loosening in both groups was not statistically significant (chi-square = 0.35, p = 0.5). Sinking-in of the cage was encountered in 7 cases with anterior plating and in only 3 cases with posterior plating. However, the difference between the groups was not statistically significant (chi-square = 1.92, p = 0.16).