A Matched Cohort Analysis Comparing Stand-Alone Cages and Anterior Cervical Plates Used for Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

Overview

Journal Global Spine J

Publisher Sage Publications

Date 2017 Aug 17

PMID 28811982

Citations 6

Authors

Samuel C Overley

Robert K Merrill

Dante M Leven

Joshua J Meaike

Abhishek Kumar

Sheeraz A Qureshi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To compare perioperative characteristics of stand-alone cages and anterior cervical plates used for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).

Methods: We reviewed 40 adult patients who received a stand-alone cage for elective ACDF and matched them with 40 patients who received an anterior cervical plate. We statistically compared operative time, length of stay, proportion of ambulatory cases, overall complications necessitating a trip to the ED, readmission, or reoperation related to index procedure.

Results: There were 21 women and 19 men in the plate cohort with average ages of 53 years ± 12 and 20 women and 20 men in the stand-alone group with an average age of 52 years ± 11. With no statistical difference in total number, the plate group experienced 4 short-term (within 90 days of discharge) complications, including 3 patients who visited the emergency department for dysphagia and 1 who visited the emergency department for severe back pain, while the stand-alone group experienced 0 complications. There was no significant difference in operative time between the stand-alone group (75.35 min) and the plate group (81.35 min; = .37). There was a significant difference between the proportion of ambulatory cases in the stand-alone group (25) and the plate group (6; < .0001).

Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that stand-alone cages have fewer complications compared to anterior plating, with a lower trend of incidence of postoperative dysphagia. Stand-alone cages may offer the advantage of sending patients home ambulatory after ACDF surgery.

Citing Articles

Postoperative Segmental Motion up to 1 Year Following Single-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: Plate versus Non-plate.

Song K, Lee J, Ham D, Jung C, Kang H, Park S Asian Spine J. 2023; 17(3):492-499.

PMID: 36775832 PMC: 10300888. DOI: 10.31616/asj.2022.0192.

Effects of Anterior Plating on Achieving Clinically Meaningful Improvement Following Single-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

Lynch C, Cha E, Patel M, Jadczak C, Mohan S, Geoghegan C Neurospine. 2022; 19(2):315-322.

PMID: 34990538 PMC: 9260542. DOI: 10.14245/ns.2142214.107.

Comparison of Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes After Standalone Versus Cage and Plate Constructs for Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

Fayed I, Conte A, Keating G, Cobourn K, Altshuler M, Makariou E Int J Spine Surg. 2021; 15(3):403-412.

PMID: 33963034 PMC: 8176849. DOI: 10.14444/8060.

[Observation of stand-alone MC+polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) Cage in anterior cervical double-level fusion for more than 2 years follow-up].

Jiang B, Tao Y, Chen H, Huang X Zhongguo Xiu Fu Chong Jian Wai Ke Za Zhi. 2019; 33(9):1151-1155.

PMID: 31512458 PMC: 8355849. DOI: 10.7507/1002-1892.201901036.

Stand-Alone Cervical Cages in 2-Level Anterior Interbody Fusion in Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: Results from a Minimum 2-Year Follow-up.

Ng E, Yip A, Wan K, Tse M, Wong K, Kwok T Asian Spine J. 2018; 13(2):225-232.

PMID: 30472820 PMC: 6454285. DOI: 10.31616/asj.2018.0193.

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