Clinical and radiological outcome after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with stand-alone empty @entity12316 ( XXXX ) cages.

@entity1 @entity227 @entity1347 @entity602 @entity177 @entity12316 @entity3799 @entity158 @entity614
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate long-term results after one-, two-, and three-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) with stand-alone empty @entity12316 ( @entity12316 ) cages. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of a consecutive @entity1 cohort that underwent ACDF with stand-alone empty @entity12316 cages between 2007 and 2010 with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Radiographic follow-up included static and flexion/extension radiographs. Changes in the operated segments were measured and compared to radiographs directly after surgery. Clinical outcome was evaluated by a physical examination, @entity158 visual analog scale (VAS), and health-related quality of life (HRQL) using the EuroQOL questionnaire (EQ-5D). Analysis of associations between fusion, subsidence, cervical alignment, and clinical outcome parameters were performed. RESULTS: Of 407 consecutive cases, 318 met all inclusion criteria. Follow-up data were obtained from 265 (83 %) cases. The mean age at presentation was 55 years and 139 @entity1 were male (52 %). In the sample, 127, 125, and 13 @entity1 had one-, two-, and three-level surgeries, respectively; 132 (49 %) presented with @entity3799 and 133 (50 %) with @entity614 . Fusion was achieved in 85, 95, and 94 % of segments in one-, two-, and three-level surgeries, respectively. Non-fusion was associated with higher @entity227 levels. Radiographic @entity1347 ( @entity1347 ) was observed in 20, 29, and 15 % in one-, two-, and three-level surgeries, respectively. @entity1347 was associated with lower HRQL. Subsidence was observed in 25, 27, and 15 % of segments in one-, two-, and three-level surgeries, respectively. However, this had no influence on clinical outcome. Follow-up operations for symptomatic adjacent @entity177 at index level were needed in 16 (6 %) and four (1.5 %) cases, respectively. Younger age was associated with better clinical outcome. Multilevel surgery favored better @entity602 outcomes and fusion reduced overall @entity158 . @entity1347 worsened EuroQOL-Index values. Worsening of the cervical alignment induced arm @entity158 . CONCLUSIONS: One- and two-level ACDF with stand-alone empty @entity12316 cages achieved very high fusion rates and a low rate of follow-up operations. The rate of good clinical outcome is highly satisfactory. Younger age was the single most influential factor associated with better clinical outcome.
