RESULTS OF TREATMENT OF CERVICAL DISCOPATHY WITH PEEK INTERBODY CAGES AT THREE LEVELS WITHOUT PLATE FIXATION

ABSTRACT Objective: To present the results of treatment of patients with cervical discopathy by anterior cervical approach, discectomy and placement of a PEEK interbody cage without anterior plate fixation. Methods: Retrospective, cross-sectional study from March 2013 to March 2015. Sixteen patients with radiculopathy or clinical signs of myelopathy were included; all patients underwent cervical surgery through anterior approach, discectomy, and placement of PEEK cages on three levels. Decompression levels were determined according to the correlation between preoperative radiological and clinical findings. Results: Sixteen patients predominantly male were included, with mean age of 50 years at the onset of the condition. Ten patients had involvement of C4-C5, C5-C6, C6-C7 levels, and six patients C3-C4, C4-C5 and C5-C6. Fourteen patients had cervicobrachialgia and two myelopathy. The preoperative visual analog scale average was 8/10 and the average postoperative value at 6 months was 3/10. At 6 months, there was no radiological evidence of recurrence. One patient had non-fatal complications. Conclusions: The treatment of cervical discopathy by anterior approach with interbody fusion with PEEK cage on three levels, with no plate fixation seemed to be safe and effective with better long-term results in terms of pain and myelopathy. The clinical results compare favorably with other similar series and, most importantly, the complications associated with anterior fixation plate are avoided. RESUMEN Objetivo: Dar a conocer los resultados del manejo del paciente con discopatía cervical utilizando abordaje cervical anterior, discectomía y colocación de caja intersomática en PEEK sin fijación con placa anterior. Método: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo, transversal, durante el periodo de marzo de 2013 a marzo de 2015. Se incluyeron 16 pacientes que se presentaron con radiculopatía o signos clínicos de mielopatía; fueron sometidos a cirugía cervical por abordaje anterior, discectomía y colocación de cajas en PEEK en tres niveles. Los niveles de descompresión se determinaron de acuerdo a la correlación entre los hallazgos radiológicos y clínicos preoperatorios. Resultados: Dieciséis pacientes con predominio del sexo masculino, con edad media de 50 años al inicio de la enfermedad, con 10 pacientes con afección en los niveles C4-C5, C5-C6, C6-C7 y 6 en los niveles C3-C4, C4-C5 y C5-C6. Catorce tenían cervicobraquialgia y 2 mielopatía. El promedio de la escala visua