OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of clinical application of stand-alone MC+PEEK cage in anterior cervical fusion.

METHODSFrom January 2011 to January 2014,50 patients were treated with the MC+PEEK cage filled with autogenous cancellous illic-bone graft after anterior cervical discectomy. There were 22 patients with cervical spondylosis,26 patients with traumatic cervical disc herniation, 2 patients with cervical instability in these patients. There were 32 males and 18 females, aged from 30 to 79 years old with an average of 53.30 years old. There were 32 patients with single segment, 15 patients with double segments and 3 patients with three segments. Cervical AP and lateral and the flexion-extension X-rays were regularly taken in order to assess the cervical physiological curvature, the graft fusion and internal fixation related complications. Nerve function, clinical effect and bone fusion were respectively evaluated according to Japan Orthopedic Association (JOA), Otani grade and Suk method.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 6 to 36 months with an average of 20 months. No correlated surgical complications were found and all patients obtained bony fusion with an average time of 4.30 months. JOA score had significantly improvement after surgery (P < 0.05). The JOA score was 10.60 ± 3.00 before surgery and 16.10 ± 2.20, 16.40 ± 2.35 at one week and six months after surgery respectively. According to Otani grade,40 cases got excellent results, 9 good, 1 fair. No significant dysphagia and internal fixation related complications such as displacement of cages were found during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONUsing this cage in anterior cervical fusion can obtain satisfactory clinical effect with less operation injury and reduce the complications. It is a better fusion method in anterior cervical fusion.