European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
The use of plate fixation in anterior surgery of the degenerative cervical spine: a comparative prospective clinical study.
The method of anterior mono- or bisegmental cervical spine fusion is a well-established procedure for degenerative conditions of the cervical spine. While the early reports promote fusion with bone graft alone, recent studies report superior results with the addition of anterior plating. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of using plates in anterior cervical spine fusion in a prospective study. ⋯ There was no significant difference between the groups for fusion rating, but graft quality (graft height) was significantly better in the plated group. We conclude that the overall data do not suggest better results with plating in mono- or bisegmental anterior spine fusions. Indications for additional internal fixation are restricted to special conditions with increased instability, insufficient bone quality or inappropriate graft placing.