Use of ventral plates for cervical arthrodesis

Ventral cervical plates are used to increase the immediate postoperative rigidity of the spine after decompressive and reconstructive procedures. The evidence supporting this practice is reviewed.

A computerized literature search of the database of the National Library of Medicine was conducted using PubMed. All relevant articles were reviewed and a critique was performed to explore the utility of ventral cervical plating.

Several randomized controlled trials of ventral cervical discectomy versus ventral cervical discectomy and fusion were identified. Three randomized controlled trials that included a differentiation between anterior cervical decompression and fusion, with and without plating, were identified. Many retrospective series, technical reports, and topical reviews were also identified.

There is little support in the literature for the medical usefulness of ventral cervical plates after single-level cervical fusion. There may, however, be a cost-benefit advantage to the use of such devices. In multilevel procedures and in the setting of traumatic instability, there seems to be an advantage to the use of cervical plates.