OBJECTIVETo explore the surgical method and its effects of adjacent spinal segment degeneration after anterior cervical fusion.

METHODSFrom March 2000 to March 2011, 27 patients with spinal segment degeneration who had accepted the operation of anterior cervical fusion were treated with surgical treatment. There were 16 males and 11 females with an average age of 55.3 years (ranged from 48 to 72 years). JOA scores and image examination were used to evaluate the clinical effects.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up for 1.8 to 7.2 years with an average of 3.6 years. All pathological segments obtained fully decompression with good spinal bombe, no internal fixation loosening and cervical spine instability were found. Nerve root pain had disappeared and nerve function had significantly improved. Before operation, 3 days after operation and at last follow-up, JOA scores were 9.15 +/- 3.46, 13.96 +/- 2.79 and 13.52 +/- 2.91, respectively, and there was significant difference between preoperation and postoperation (P < 0.05). Intervertebral height and physiological curvature improved obviously than preoperation (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn order to relief spinal compression and rebuild spinal stability, a surgical treatment will be recommend to adjacent spinal segment degeneration combining spinal nerve symptoms and physical sign as soon as possible. Selecting an appropriate surgery to treat different compressed segment would receive satisfactory results.