Outcome Analysis of Discectomy with Standalone Cage for Management of Cervical Disc Prolapse

Background: Anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) is the major treatment option in the management
of cervical degenerative disease leading to persistent radiculopathy or myelopathy. The standalone cage was
initiated by Bagby was used since 1988. To counteract the complications with the plating for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ADCF), standalone cage concept was developed and favourable outcomes have been described with a low rate of dysphagia.
Objective:
The purpose of this study is to evaluate radiological / clinical outcome of patients who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ADCF) with standalone cages (SAC)
Methods: Total 15 patients who underwent ADCF with SAC between Jan 2010 and Dec 2014 were evaluated prospectively. Fusion was assessed using standard X-rays with exion/extension views. The clinical outcomes evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale for pain and Odom's criteria.
Results:
The majority were Males (9 vs 6) with average age of 43.1 Mean followup period was 61.3 months. Out of the 15 cases in 7 cases we used
Titanium cage and 8 cases we used PEEK cage. Fusion rate was 86.6%. In two cases we did a double level disc with good clinical outcome. Our patients had 5.4 scales improvement on VAS Score on average. One of our case got infected and cage exit was done and in one other case anterior pull out of the cage was seen without affecting the neurology of the patient so we did not plan for any second procedure in that patient.
Conclusion:
Discectomy with Standalone cage is a safe and effective procedure providing favourable clinical and radiological outcome. Good fusion rates can be obtained (86.6% in our study) with this method.