Anterior cervical stabilization using a semi-constrained cervical plate and titanium mesh cage for single level corpectomy

In this study we reviewed the treatment outcomes for 20 consecutive patients who underwent anterior 1-level cervical corpectomy and reconstruction using a titanium mesh cage and semi-constrained plating after an average follow-up of 14.8 months. Two groups, each of 10 patients, underwent surgery with 10-mm and 13-mm diameter cages, respectively. Bony fusion and the radiological outcome were evaluated using follow-up radiography and sagittal reconstructed CT scans. The radiographs revealed bony consolidation in 95% of the 20 patients during follow-up. Five cases of construct failure occurred after surgery:1 failure (10%) was encountered in the 10-mm cage group and 4 (40%) occurred in the 13-mm cage group (P = 0.085). The failures were mainly the result of cage settling and screw-plate failure. Although the clinical outcomes and fusion rates for anterior cervical stabilization using a semi-constrained plate and titanium cage were favorable, further biomechanical evaluations and a prospective randomized study will be necessary to fully understand this dependence of implant failure on cage size.