Carbon-fibre cage reconstruction in anterior cervical corpectomy for multilevel cervical spondylosis: mid-term...

Mid-term clinical and radiological evaluation of a carbon-fiber cage in multilevel cervical spondylosis (MCS). Anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) using titanium mesh cages (TMC) has shown satisfactory outcomes, but with subsidence of up to 20%. Conventional long-fiber carbon fiber cages have shown a safe profile in discectomy/fusion (ACDF) but with minimal data in the setting of corpectomy.

Retrospective review of a single centre multi-surgeon cohort of MCS patients from 2007-2012. Follow-up period was a minimum of 3.5 years, mean 6 years. Outcomes included peri-operative, clinical [Nurick, European Myelopathy, Visual Analogue Scores (VAS), modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) scores and radiographic (C2C7, Cobb & ROM angles)].

A total of 102 consecutive patients were included. Mean length of stay was 5.5 (SD 3.5) days, blood loss 322 (SD 358) mL and operative time 98 (SD 31) min. Corpectomy levels included 72 single-level ACCF and 30 multiple ACCF. Fourteen had peri-operative complications. Three patients required early cage revisions. Mean pain scores improved from VAS neck 4.6 to 2.6 (P<0.01) and VAS arm 5.1 to 2.0 (P<0.01). Mean Nurick score improved from 1.2 to 0.4/4 (P<0.01). Mean follow-up EMS was 15.9/18 and mJOA was 14.0/17. Seventy follow-up radiographs were obtained. Flexion-extension angulation differences of >3 mm across the instrumented level were present in 5 patients, all of which displayed fusion of either grade 1 or 2. 7 had C2C7 kyphosis. Severe subsidence (>3 mm) was seen in 9 cases (13%).

Mid-term outcomes of this carbon-fiber cage indicate that it is safe and durable for the treatment of MCS with a similar radiological profile to that of TMC.