[The plain-film radiological changes in the cervical spine following a ventral fusion operation with bone cement].

PURPOSE

The usual treatment in cervical nerve root compression syndrome is the ventral fusion with bone cement. We examined the influence of this interponate on the postoperative changes of the cervical spine.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

33 patients were followed-up postoperatively over 6 months, who were treated with 39 ventral fusions because of cervical myelopathy. The lateral view of the cervical spine was used to measure the size of the bone cement interponate, the height of the intervertebral body space and the angle of both vertebral bodies.

RESULTS

There was no change on the size of the interponate. Postoperatively there was a slight enlargement of the intervertebral body space. During further follow-up examinations there was a decrease to the preoperative size because of the destruction of the endplates. Similar to this observation, there was a change of the angle in the operated segment. First there was a decrease of the angle, later an increase. 6 months postoperatively the preoperatively status was re-attained. Clinical examination of the patients revealed new neurologic deficits in 10% of the cases.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the postoperative deficits can be only partially explained because the structural changes occur with both the uncomplicated postoperative courses and in patients with postoperative deficits.