Anterior approaches to cervical spondylosis and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: review of operative technique and assessment of 65 multilevel circumferential procedures.

BACKGROUND: Multilevel anterior cervical corpectomy with fusion (ACF) offers direct resection of spondylostenosis and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) with immediate stabilization. Ideal candidates for multilevel ACF include younger patients (<65 years of age), or older individuals (>65 years of age) with loss or reversal of the cervical lordosis (kyphosis).

METHODS: Sixty-five patients, averaging 56 years of age and including 40 males and 25 females, with multilevel MR- and CT-documented spondylostenosis and OPLL were studied. Preoperatively, patients exhibited moderate to severe myelopathy (average Nurick grade 3.8), and were managed with 2- to 4-level ACF with posterior wiring and fusion (PWF) procedures with halo application. The first 22 patients had no plate instrumentation, the next 22 had constrained (Orion) plates applied followed sequentially by the application of 13 semi-constrained (Atlantis) plates, and finally, 8 dynamic (ABC Aesculap) plates.

RESULTS: Patients improved an average of three postoperative Nurick grades. None exhibited new cord injuries, whereas three had transient C5 root paresis. Graft/plate or vertebral fracture with extrusion were observed in 3/22 nonplated patients, 2/22 constrained-plated patients, 3/13 semi-constrained-plated patients, and 0/8 dynamic-plated patients. Fusion was documented on dynamic radiographs and 2D-CT or 3D-CT studies obtained 3 and 6 months postoperatively, or later where indicated.

CONCLUSIONS: Multilevel ACF/PWF offers direct resection of spondylostenosis and OPLL with immediate maximal stabilization. Thus far, no graft/plate or vertebral body fracture or extrusions have been seen with dynamic plates, whereas the absence of plating and constrained and semi-constrained plating systems have failed.