Anterior decompression and instrumentation with cervical butterfly-like locking plate system for herniated cervical intervertebral discs.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of anterior decompression and internal fixation with cervical butterfly-like locking plate system (CBLP, made in China) in the treatment of cervical intervertebral disc herniation.

METHODS

This study included 16 patients with cervical intervertebral disc herniation, aged from 26 to 46 years (36.2 years on average), with the disc hernia occurring in single segment in 12 and 2 segments in 4 cases. The patients received anterior decompression, autogenous iliac bone grafting and internal fixation with CBLP, and follow-up studies lasting for 12 to 24 months (mean 18 months) were conducted in all the cases.

RESULTS

All the patients had significant improvements in terms of symptom alleviation without any complications during the follow-up period. Solid bone fusion was achieved within an average period of 3 months, and no screw loosening or plate failure occurred.

CONCLUSION

Anterior decompression and internal fixation with CBLP proves to be effective for managing cervical intervertebral disc herniation.