Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026
Modified Posterior Vertebral Column Resection for Patients with Thoracolumbar Kyphotic Deformity
Published on: September 16, 2022
Distractable titanium cages versus PEEK cages versus iliac crest bone grafts for the replacement of cervical
Stefan Alexander König1, Uwe Spetzger
1Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum Karlsruhe , Karlsruhe , Germany.
Objective:
To analyse the advantages and disadvantages of distractable titanium cages, polyether-etherketone cages, and iliac crest bone graft for the replacement of cervical vertebral bodies (VBR).
Methods:
The clinical and radiological results of 32 patients who underwent cervical corpectomy for the decompression of the spinal canal were retrospectively analysed and discussed.
Results:
For the vertebral body replacement the authors used distractable titanium cages (n = 6), PEEK cages (n = 19), and iliac crest bone graft (n = 7). The neurological outcomes according to postoperative JOA scores did not show significant differences between the three groups. PEEK cages showed a high rate of secondary subsidence (32%).
Discussion:
Despite the risk of donor site morbidity the authors recommend iliac crest bone graft as primary choice for VBR because of its excellent fusion rate and its cost effectiveness. For revision cases we recommend titanium cages.
