A comparison between the carbon fiber cage and the cloward procedure in cervical spine surgery: a ten- to thirteen-year follow-up of a prospective randomized study

STUDY DESIGN: Ten- to 13-year follow-up of a prospective randomized study. OBJECTIVE: To compare the 10- to 13-year outcomes of anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) with a cervical intervertebral fusion cage (CIFC), and the Cloward procedure (CP) using a broad clinical and patient-centered assessment. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA.: There are few prospective studies and none with a follow-up of 10 years or more. METHODS: Patient questionnaires completed 10 years or more after ACDF. Seventy-three patients (77%) responded. Radiographs were obtained at 2 years. RESULTS: Apart from greater fulfillment of preoperative expectation (P = 0.01) and less headache (P = 0.005) in the CIFC group compared with the CP group, there were no significant differences in the outcomes of the two surgical methods. Pain intensity improved in comparison with preoperative levels in both the CIFC and CP groups (P < 0.0001), but the Neck Disability Index (NDI) only improved in the CIFC group (P = 0.04). Only those with a healed fusion benefited from an improved NDI (P = 0.02). There was no deterioration in pain intensity or NDI after the 2-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: The outcomes of the two surgical methods, with a few exceptions, were equal at 10- to 13-year follow-up, and there was no deterioration in outcome after the 2-year follow-up. Pain intensity improved more than disability, which may indicate that further improvement of physical function requires early more extensive postoperative rehabilitation. Despite persisting disability, repeat surgery was relatively uncommon Keywords : Adult,Aged,Bone Plates,Carbon,Carbon Fiber,Cervical Vertebrae,Decompression,Surgical,Female,Follow-Up Studies,Headache,Humans,instrumentation,Internal Fixators,Male,methods,Middle Aged,Neck,Pain,Pain Measurement,Patients,Prospective Studies,rehabilitation,Spinal Fusion,Spine,surgery,Treatment Outcome,trends,, Comparison,Between,Carbon,Fiber, consultant clinic harley street reviews

Date of Publication : 2011 May 20

Authors : Hermansen A;Hedlund R;Vavruch L;Peolsson A;

Organisation : Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linkoping University, Linkoping, Sweden. Anneli.Peolsson@liu.se

Journal of Publication : Spine (Phila Pa 1976 )

Pubmed Link : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21217436

The London Spine Unit : Harley Street UK. Specialists in Cutting Edge Technologies for Spinal Surgery

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