Corpectomy

Abstract: Object Anterior cervical discectomy (ACD), ACD with interbody fusion (ACDF), ACDF with placement of an anterior plate system (ACDFP), corpectomy, and corpectomy with plate placement are used to fuse the cervical spine. The authors conducted a metaanalysis of studies published after 1990 in which fusion rates achieved with each procedure were reported for patients with degenerative disease at one, two, and three disc levels. Methods Twenty-one papers each included data on at least 25 patients. In each of the 21 studies the average clinical follow up was more than 12 months, and the results were evaluated according to radiographic evidence of fusion and delineated by the number of levels fused. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used for comparisons. The mean age of the patients was 46.7 years, 46.6% were female, and the mean follow-up period was 39.6 months. The studies included 2682 patients and the overall fusion rate was 89.5%. For single disc–level disease, fusion rates were 84.9% for ACD, 92.1% fo...

Abstract: A retrospective, multicenter study was undertaken to evaluate the early postoperative failure rate of long segment anterior cervical fusion and plating to stabilize the cervical spine after a two- or three-level corpectomy for degenerative, traumatic, and neoplastic diseases of the cervical spine. Patient demographic factors as well as technical factors such as bone graft placement, plate and screw position, and postoperative brace immobilization were analyzed. During the early postoperative period, the graft/plate construct dislodged in 3 of 33 patients with a two-level corpectomy and fusion (9%) compared with 6 of 12 patients with a three-level corpectomy and fusion (50%). The difference in failure rates after a three- versus two-level corpectomy and fusion was statistically significant (p < 0.05). A higher early failure rate was also seen with failure to correctly lock the screws to the plate and the use of a peg-in-hole type bone grafting technique, although these differences were not statistically significant. Although several technical and patient-specific factors may contribute to this, anterior cervical plating and bone grafting alone after a three-level cervical corpectomy for various spinal disorders appears to afford inadequate stability in the early postoperative period, regardless of immobilization methods.

Abstract: STUDY DESIGN A retrospective study was conducted. OBJECTIVE To compare the long-term outcomes of subtotal corpectomy and laminoplasty for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA No study has compared the long-term outcomes between subtotal corpectomy and laminoplasty for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy. METHODS In this study, 23 patients treated with subtotal corpectomy and 24 patients treated with laminoplasty were followed up for 10 to 14 years after surgery. Neurologic recovery, late deterioration, axial pain, radiographic results (degenerative changes at adjacent levels, alignment, and range of motion of the cervical spine), and surgical complications were compared between the two groups. RESULTS No significant difference in neurologic recovery was found between the two groups 1 and 5 years after surgery, or at the latest follow-up assessment. Neurologic status deteriorated in one patient of the subtotal corpectomy group because of adjacent degeneration, and in one patient of the laminoplasty group because of hyperextension injury. Axial pain was observed in 15% of the corpectomy group and in 40% of the laminoplasty group (P < 0.05). In the corpectomy group, listhesis exceeding 2 mm developed at 38% of the upper adjacent levels, and osteophyte formation at 54% of the lower adjacent levels. In the laminoplasty group, kyphotic deformity developed in one patient (6%) after surgery. In the corpectomy group, the mean vertebral range of motion had decreased from 39.4 degrees to 19.2 degrees (49%) by the final follow-up assessment. In the laminoplasty group, the mean vertebral range of motion had decreased from 40.2 degrees to 11.6 degrees (29%) by the final follow-up assessment. Neurologic complications related to the surgery occurred in two patients (one myelopathy from bone graft dislodgement and one C5 root palsy from bone graft fracture) of the corpectomy group and four patients (C5 root palsy) of the laminoplasty group. All of these patients recovered over time. The corpectomy group needed longer operative time (P < 0.001) and tended to have more blood loss (P = 0.24). Six patients in the corpectomy group needed posterior interspinous wiring because of pseudarthrosis. CONCLUSIONS Subtotal corpectomy and laminoplasty showed an identical effect from a surgical treatment for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy. These neurologic recoveries usually last more than 10 years. In the subtotal corpectomy group, the disadvantages were longer surgical time, more blood loss, and pseudarthrosis. In the laminoplasty group, axial pain occurred frequently, and the range of motion was reduced severely.

Abstract: Study design Retrospective chart review of 311 anterior cervical procedures. Objectives To assess the incidence and variables that predispose to an airway complication in a large series of anterior cervical surgical procedures. Summary of background data A rare but potentially lethal complication after anterior cervical spine surgery is respiratory compromise and airway obstruction. Some risk factors are thought to include two-level corpectomy in myelopathic patients with a history of heavy smoking and asthma. No previous study in the literature has been directed at examining the factors specifically related to airway complications after anterior cervical spine surgery. Methods Each chart was examined for patient characteristics and pathology, anesthetic parameters and problems, operative procedure, and postoperative course and management. Statistical analysis was performed. Results Nineteen patients (6.1%) had an airway complication and six (1.9%) required reintubation. One patient died. Symptoms developed on average 36 hours postoperatively. All complications except for two were attributable to pharyngeal edema. Variables that were found to be statistically associated with an airway complication (P 300 mL, exposures involving C2, C3, or C4, and an operative time >5 hours. A history of myelopathy, spinal cord injury, pulmonary problems, smoking, anesthetic risk factors, and the absence of a drain did not correlate with an airway complication. Conclusions Patients with prolonged procedures (i.e., >5 hours) exposing more than three vertebral levels that include C2, C3, or C4 with more than 300-mL blood loss should be watched carefully for respiratory insufficiency.