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Anterior cervical discectomy has been performed for almost 50 years. Initially, bone grafts were used routinely, but soon their necessity was questioned. It remains disputed to this day. The aim was to establish whether there are grounds for basing choice of technique on individual patient data. The cervical spine radiographs of 148 patients who had undergone grafted or ungrafted anterior cervical discectomy were reviewed and changes in geometry at the operated level were measured. These data were then examined for any correlation between preoperative geometry, choice of operative technique and adverse clinical outcome. Disturbances to spinal geometry after ungrafted discectomy are minimal at disc heights below 4 mm. At and above 4 mm significant settlement and angulation occur. Complications in our series were fewer where small disc spaces were left ungrafted and larger ones grafted. Disc spaces below 4 mm should not be grafted, but spaces of 4 mm or more should.

Original publication

DOI

10.1080/02688690500145605

Type

Journal article

Journal

Br J Neurosurg

Publication Date

04/2005

Volume

19

Pages

148 - 154

Keywords

Bone Transplantation, Cervical Vertebrae, Diskectomy, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Radiography, Retrospective Studies