Review of 119 cases of cervical interbody fusion by Cloward's method

The long term results (not less than two years) of 119 out of 178 operations for cervical interbody fusion by Cloward's technique, performed at the Istituto Ortopedico Toscano between 1965 and 1978, are presented. The great majority of cases were cervical and root pain due to postero-lateral disc prolapse. In this group of cases the results were classified as excellent in 60 per cent of cases. The results were also rewarding in central disc prolapse with cord compression syndromes. They were less satisfactory in cervical spondylosis and in myelopathy due to spondylosis. In these groups, some arrest of the symptoms was achieved, but no effective regression. One indication for Cloward's operation is post-traumatic instability following trauma, or after biopsy and evacuation of lesions of the vertebral bodies.