[Analysis of influence of shell angle of cervical artificial disc on long-term effectiveness of cervical artificial disc replacement].

Objective: To evaluate the influence of the shell angle of cervical artificial disc on long-term effectiveness of cervical artificial disc replacement (CADR).

Methods: The clinical data of 71 patients who were treated with single-level CADR with Bryan prosthesis between December 2003 and December 2007 and followed up more than 10 years, were retrospectively analyzed. There were 44 males and 27 females with an age of 26-69 years (mean, 45.9 years). According to the shell angle of the cervical artificial disc which was measured on the postoperative lateral X-ray film, the patients were divided into kyphotic group (shell angle was negative) and non-kyphotic group. The following evaluation indexes before operation and at last follow-up were compared between 2 groups. Radiographic indexes included the range of motion (ROM) of cervical spine, the ROM of operated level, Cobb angle of operated level (the negative value indicated that the segmental kyphosis occurred at operated level), paravertebral ossification (PO) grades (grades 3 and 4 were high grade PO). Clinical indexes included Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, neck disability index (NDI), and overall effectiveness evaluation (Odom criteria).

Results: There were 24 patients in kyphotic group and 47 patients in non-kyphotic group. There was no significant difference in baseline data including gender, age, and operated level between 2 groups ( P >0.05). All the patients in 2 groups were followed up 121-165 months (mean, 128 months). There was no significant difference in preoperative ROM of cervical spine and ROM of operated level between 2 groups ( P >0.05); but the preoperative Cobb angle of operated level in kyphosis group was significantly lower than that in non-kyphotic group ( t =2.636, P =0.013). There was no significant difference in ROM of cervical spine at last follow-up between 2 groups ( t =1.393, P =0.168), however, the ROM and the Cobb angle of operated level in kyphotic group were significantly lower than those in non-kyphotic group ( P <0.05). According to the Cobb angle of operated level at last follow-up, there were 9 patients (37.5%) with segmental kyphosis in kyphotic group and 7 patients (14.9%) in non-kyphotic group, showing significant difference ( χ 2 =4.651, P =0.031). There was a significant difference in PO grades between 2 groups ( Z =2.894, P =0.004) at last follow-up. In kyphotic group, there were 10 patients (41.7%) with low grade PO and 14 patients (58.3%) with high grade PO; and in non-kyphosis group, there were 36 patients (76.6%) with low grade PO and 11 patients (23.4%) with high grade PO. There was no significant difference in JOA scores and NDI before operation and at last follow-up, and the JOA improvement rate, NDI decline, and Odom criteria score at last follow-up between 2 groups ( P >0.05).

Conclusion: The shell angle of cervical artificial disc may lead to a decrease in the postoperative segmental ROM, and an increased occurrence of segmental kyphosis and high incidence of PO.