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Multilevel Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Degenerative Lumbar Disc Disease with Instability
Published on: July 25, 2025
Resorbable anterior cervical plates for single-level degenerative disc disease
Rajesh K Bindal1, Subrata Ghosh, Beatrix Foldi
1Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. Rbindal@aol.com
Neurosurgery
|January 8, 2008
Summary
This study evaluated resorbable cervical plates in anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF). While clinical outcomes were good, resorbable plates showed higher rates of pseudarthrosis and kyphosis compared to titanium plates.
Area of Science:
- Spine surgery
- Biomaterials
- Orthopedic implants
Background:
- Resorbable spinal implants are gaining interest.
- Limited data exists on resorbable anterior cervical plates.
- This study addresses the clinical and radiographic outcomes of a novel resorbable cervical plate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present clinical outcomes of anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) using the first commercially available resorbable cervical plate.
- To compare radiographic outcomes, including pseudarthrosis and healing angulation, between resorbable and titanium cervical plates.
Main Methods:
- Prospective evaluation of 24 patients undergoing single-level ACDF with a resorbable anterior cervical plate (15-month mean follow-up).
- Retrospective assessment of 93 patients undergoing single-level ACDF with a titanium plate (1-year minimum follow-up) as a control group.
- Clinical outcomes assessed via Neck Disability Index and Numerical Rating Scale pain scores. Radiographic outcomes evaluated using Cobb angles on final X-rays.
Main Results:
- Resorbable plate group showed significant improvement in Neck Disability Index (64.0% to 20.1%) and pain scores (8.0 to 2.9).
- Pseudarthrosis rate was significantly higher in the resorbable group (12.5%) compared to the titanium group (2.2%) (P=0.047).
- Resorbable plates resulted in mean kyphosis (4.52 degrees), while titanium plates resulted in mean lordosis (2.41 degrees) (P<0.001).
Conclusions:
- This study represents the first series of ACDF patients using the initial commercially available resorbable cervical plate.
- Resorbable implants were associated with significantly higher rates of kyphosis and pseudarthrosis compared to titanium plates.
- While clinical outcomes were favorable, titanium plating may offer superior radiographic results in ACDF.
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