Treatment of cervical disc prolapse by anterior cervical discectomy fusion and stabilization with plating

Different types of surgical techniques are used for effective treatment of cervical disc prolapse. Techniques with fusion without stabilization have some disadvantages like collapse of the graft, extrusion of graft, nonunion and recurrence of symptoms. We have carried out this prospective interventional study between March 2001 to November 2007 on 129 cases of cervical disc prolapse treated with anterior cervical discectomy, fusion & stabilization with plating at IBN SINA Hospital, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Al-Manar Hospital, Lalmatia and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Shahbag, Dhaka. There were 106(82.17%) male and 23(17.82%) female patients. The commonest age group of the patients was 4th decade. The commonest level of disc prolapse was found in C5/6 level and in each case, diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical findings, plain X-ray and MRI of cervical spine. We performed anterior cervical discectomy, fusion and stabilization with plating in all cases. A per-operative marking film was taken in each case to identify proper level. Per-operative undue hemorrhage from donor site occurred in 1 case, 27 patients complained of dysphagia temporarily, 64 patients complained of donor site pain significantly which was relieved within 3-6 months of follow-up period. Donor site infection was found in 1 patient. The post operative follow-up period was 3 months to 6 years. The functional out come obtained excellent in 71.43%, good in 19.64%, fair in 8.93%, poor in 2.32% in this series.