Functional outcome of surgically managed cervical degenerative disease patients with anterior cervical discectomy & fusion using standalone PEEK cages

Abstract

Conservative management of cervical spondylosis comprises of analgesics, physiotherapy, traction, postural training and activity modification. Surgery is indicated when symptoms are not relieved or neurological deficits occur. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) using a locking plate is the standard treatment for cervical spondylosis with prolapsed disc causing radicular or myelopathy symptoms. This study was undertaken to study outcomes of ACDF using standalone Polyethyl ether ketone (PEEK) cages without plate fixation. 9 operated patients were followed up for a minimum period of 6 months. 6 patients had radiculopathy and 3 had myelopathy. At 6 months all radiographs showed fusion. VAS reduced from an average 8.22 pre-op to 2.33 postoperatively. All myelopathy patients showed improvements in Nurick grade and mJOA scores. As per Odom’s criteria 5 patients showed excellent outcome, 2 patients had good outcome, 1 patient had fair outcome and 1 patient showed worsening.