Radiographic Changes in the Cervical Spine Following Anterior Arthrodesis: A Long-Term Analysis of 166 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Adjacent segment degeneration frequently develops following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. The objectives of the present study were to characterize the long-term evolution of degenerative radiographic changes at segments adjacent to anterior cervical fusion and to identify factors associated with the development of these changes, including the preoperative condition of the cervical spine and parameters related to arthrodeses. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-six patients who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for symptomatic cervical spondylosis or disc herniation were followed radiographically for a mean time of 12.7 years (range, 5 to 30 years). Radiographic changes representing degeneration at adjacent levels, including disc height loss, osteophyte formation, end-plate sclerosis, and facet arthrosis, along with changes in sagittal alignment of the fusion segment and cervical spine, were recorded preoperatively and at the time of the latest follow-up. Regression models were used to identify the parameters that affect these degenerative changes. RESULTS: More than 90% of patients had worsened anterior and posterior osteophytes at segments immediately adjacent to the fusion. Degenerative changes were significantly affected by the proximity of the level to the fusion and were inversely affected by the preoperative degenerative changes present at the segment (p < 0.0001). The time elapsed since the surgical procedure was a significant predictor of degenerative changes (p < 0.0001). However, the patient age, the number of levels fused, and the sagittal alignment of the fusion segment had no influence on the degenerative changes at adjacent segments. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple factors likely contribute to adjacent segment degeneration following cervical arthrodesis. Although mechanical parameters associated with arthrodesis, such as length and alignment of the fusion, did not appear to play a role, the preoperative degenerative condition of the spine and inclusion of C5-C6 in the arthrodesis influenced the incidence of adjacent segment degeneration. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Smoking and degenerative changes of the cervical spine: a roentgenographic study.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Cigarette smoking has been implicated in low back pain and intervertebral disc degeneration; however, there is no conclusive evidence that cigarette smoking is an important contributing factor to intervertebral disc degeneration. PURPOSE: The objective of this study is to determine whether heavy cigarette smoking is a contributing factor to the development and severity of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. STUDY DESIGN: This is a comparative roentgenographic study of degenerative changes of the cervical spine in age- and sex-matched smokers and nonsmokers. PATIENT SAMPLE: Two hundred asymptomatic subjects, 100 women and 100 men, were equally divided into 50 nonsmokers and 50 heavy smokers. OUTCOME MEASURES: A numerical grading system previously developed was used to grade the presence and severity of degenerative changes at each cervical level, and cervical lordosis was measured. This was performed on a lateral cervical spine roentgenogram. METHODS: A single lateral roentgenogram of the cervical spine was taken in each individual, and in the smokers a short questionnaire was administered to determine the amount and duration of smoking. The roentgenograms were read by the three authors. Average values of all three observers were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between smokers and nonsmokers. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the evidence of the plain roentgenograms used in this study, we found no evidence to suggest that cigarette smoking is a causative factor in asymptomatic people in the development of degenerative disc disease in the cervical spine. Whether cigarette smoking has a significant effect in people with neck symptoms cannot be determined by this study.

Use of an intramedullary rod in knee arthrodesis following failed total knee arthroplasty.

A retrospective review was conducted of 20 consecutive patients (10 men and 10 women) with failed total knee arthroplasty (TKA) who underwent arthrodesis using an intramedullary rod. Average patient age was 70.5 years. One patient was lost to follow-up, and the remaining 19 patients were evaluated an average of 4.5 years postoperatively (range: 1-24 years). Three patients without infections achieved a solid arthrodesis without complications. In 16 patients, the indication for fusion was an infection, and 12 of these patients had an uncomplicated postoperative course and achieved a solid arthrodesis. Of the remaining 4 patients, 1 required revision for a nonunion, 1 a skin graft, and 2 had recurrence of their infections in the postoperative period. Both patients had positive cultures at attempted arthrodesis. One patient underwent debridement at 3 months, and a solid fusion was obtained. The other patient required rod removal and currently has a nonunion, uses a brace, and is on suppressive antibiotic treatment. An intramedullary rod is the ideal fixation choice for knee arthrodesis in patients with a failed, noninfected TKA; however, in patients with an infection, the infection must be eradicated prior to rod use.

Subvastus approach for total knee arthroplasty.

The indications for the subvastus approach in total knee arthroplasty are the same for a medial parapatellar approach in the appropriately selected patient. The subvastus approach does not violate the quadriceps mechanism, reduces the need for lateral retinacular release, preserves the patella blood supply, and, with our modifications, can be used in most cases.

Treatment of nonunions following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with interspinous wiring and bone grafting.

Between 1979 and 2000, 25 posterior arthrodeses were performed for repair of symptomatic nonunions following anterior discectomy and fusion. The surgical technique in all cases was an interspinous wiring with an autogenous bone graft in 20 and morselized allograft bone in five. The average follow-up was 5 years (range, 1-14 years). In all patients, the anterior pseudarthrosis progressed to a solid union as judged by an independent musculoskeletal radiologist. In 17 patients, their preoperative pain was relieved; however, of these, six developed recurrent pain caused by degeneration at an adjacent level on an average of 5 years (range, 1-14 years) after their posterior surgery. The authors propose that posterior interspinous wiring with a bone graft is a safe and efficacious method of repair of an anterior pseudarthrosis. However, patients must be cautioned that even though the pseudarthrosis can be predictably repaired by a posterior procedure, preoperative pain may not be relieved.

Impaction bone grafting for total hip revision.

We used impaction bone grafting for total hip revision on 26 hips in 25 patients. Average patient age was 68 (34-89) years, and average duration from last surgery was 9 years. In all cases morselized allograft bone was used for the graft, and the femoral component was a collarless, polished, tapered stem. Average duration of surgery was 2.4 h, intraoperative blood loss 600 cc, blood replacement 2.4 units, and acute-care hospital stay 5 days. Complications were varus placement of the stem in two patients and postoperative development of varus in one, one intraoperative and three postoperative femoral fractures, and one postoperative dislocation. Average subsidence was 0.6 cm. We believe that most, if not all, of these complications could have been prevented.