[Long-term evaluation of radiographic changes following cervical anterior fusion with hydroxyapatite ceramic spacer]

Cervical anterior fusion with iliac bone crest has become a popular surgical technique for cervical spondylotic disease. Since about 10 years ago, we have substituted hydroxyapatite ceramic spacer for autologous graft because of postoperative painful hip syndrome. Fourteen patients who underwent cervical anterior fusion with ceramic spacer were evaluated by plain radiographs for over eight years postoperatively. In six among the fourteen patients plain films demonstrated minimal stenosis of intervertebral disc height, of which the ratio ranged from 15% to 28% (mean 22%). The increase in mobility of the adjacent segment after fusion was noted in ten of the fourteen patients, although the ratio ranged only between 12% and 24% (mean 18%). In none of all the patients did dynamic plain films show cervical instability such as slippage and swan neck deformity. It seems that anterior fusion with ceramic spacer is a useful and safe method for a cervical spondylotic disease.