Turkish Neurosurgery 2016 , Vol 26 , Num 3
Comparison of Anterior Cervical Discectomy Fusion Techniques: Bladed and Non Bladed PEEK Cages
Mustafa GUVEN1, Murat COSAR1, Bahadir ALKAN1, Adem Bozkurt ARAS1, Tarik AKMAN1, Ozbey SAFAK1, Oznur KARAARSLAN1, Davut CEYLAN2, Mehmet TOKMAK3
1Çanakkale 18 Mart University, School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Çanakkale, Turkey
2Sakarya University, School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Sakarya, Turkey
3Medipol University, School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul, Turkey
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.12797-14.1 AIM: The aim of this study is to compare the different types of fusion materials known as PEEK cages used during anterior cervical discectomy (ACD) surgery.

MATERIAL and METHODS: A total of 67 patients were operated and evaluated retrospectively under two groups (group A: 35 PEEK cage patients, group B: 32 bladed PEEK cage patients) between 2009 and 2013. Preoperative and postoperative (postoperative first day, postoperative 1st, 3rd and 12-24th mo) images were obtained. The cervical disc heights, cervical and segmental lordotic angles of the operated levels were calculated. Pain assessment was performed and fusion rates were also compared. Mann-Whitney U test was applied to compare the outcomes.

RESULTS: The pain scores (especially for arm pain) were decreased significantly in both groups after surgery regardless of the type of operation technique (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between both groups at the disc height measurements of operated levels in postoperative periods (P>0.05). In addition to these; there was no significant difference between both groups of segmental and cervical lordodic angles in postoperative periods (P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the fusion rates and pain scores of both groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: The PEEK cage and bladed PEEK cages can be used safely to obtain fusion after ACD. Keywords : Anterior cervical discectomy, Cage, Fusion, PEEK Cage

Corresponding author : Murat Cosar, drcosar@hotmail.com