Use of resorbable implants for symptomatic cervical spondylosis: experience on 16 consecutive patients

The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of a consecutive series of 16 patients affected by degenerative cervical spondylosis and operated on by anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACFD) by means of anterior bioresorbable plate and screws. Further, the authors compared the results in these patients with a series of 13 patients also affected by degenerative cervical spondylosis in whom arthrodesis was obtained by means of cages without plates.\

The series included 8 males and 8 females aging from 37 to 69 years, operated from June 2003 to September 2004. They showed signs of cervical myelopathy, radiculopathy or both. The ACDF was performed with the insertion of dense cancellous allograft and application of anterior bioresorbable plate and screws (group A). The group B series included 9 males and 4 females aging from 50 to 77 years, all affected by the same pathology of group A patients and operated on in the same period of time. In these cases the ACDF was followed by the insertion of cages without anterior plates.

The retrospective analysis of our series showed lack of soft tissue reaction, with safeguarding of the vertebral body and disc space height. The degree of alignment of the cervical spine was also preserved, with a good rate of fusion and a good clinical outcome in both series of patients.

The use of a cervical plate increase stability and rate of fusion when added to the interbody device; while the use of a metallic plate may be responsible for several shortcomings, a resorbable plate may overcome these problems.