OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effects of anterior corpectomy decompression and titanium mesh bone graft fusion combined with titanium plate fixation in treatting multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

METHODSThe clinical data of 48 patients with multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy underwent surgical operation were retrospectively analyzed from October 2010 to January 2013. There were 37 males and 11 females, aged from 37 to 76 years old with an average of 54.6 years. Thirty-five cases were two-segment lesion, 7 cases were three-segment lesion, 6 cases were four-segment lesion. All the patients were treated by anterior corpectomy decompression and titanium mesh bone graft fusion combined with titanium plate fixation. ROM, JOA, VAS and SF-36 scores were recorded before and after operation(including 3, 6, 12 months after operation and final follow-up). Fusion degree and spinal canal decompression condition were observed by radiographic data.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 14 to 48 months, with an average of 27.3 months. At 12 months after surgery, radiographic data showed that all patients obtained bony fusion, spinal canal decompression were sufficient. Preoperative vertebral canal sagittal diameter of the most serious segment were (5.13 +/- 1.32) mm, 12 months after surgery were (9.94 +/- 1.22) mm, there was statistically significance (t=2.463, P=0.014); the degree of vertebral canal decompression were (92.15 +/- 2.35)%. Postoperative ROM, JOA, VAS and SF-36 scores were obviously improved than that of preoperative (P<0.05); there was no statistically significance of ROM, JOA, VAS and SF-36 scores in each time after operation (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONAnterior corpectomy decompression and titanium mesh bone graft fusion combined with titanium plate fixation can obtain higher fusion rate, complete thoroughly decompression, improvement of clinical symptoms and well safety in treating multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy.