Anterior corpectomy and reconstruction using dynamic cervical plate and titanium mesh cage for cervical spondylotic myelopathy: A minimum 5-year follow-up study

Anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) is an effective surgical technique for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). However, no data exist regarding long-term outcomes after ACCF with the dynamic cervical plate for CSM. This study aimed to provide minimum 5-year clinical and radiographic outcomes of anterior corpectomy and reconstruction using dynamic cervical plate and titanium mesh cage (TMC) for CSM. Thirty-five patients who underwent single- or 2-level ACCF with dynamic cervical plate and TMC for the treatment of CSM were retrospectively investigated. The Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score was used to assess the clinical outcome. Radiographic evaluations included TMC subsidence, fusion status, cervical lordosis, segmental angle, and segmental height. Twenty-eight patients underwent single-level and 7 patients underwent 2-level corpectomy with a mean follow-up period of 69.5 months. The average preoperative JOA score was 11.3 ± 3.0 and improved significantly to 14.2 ± 2.0 at the last follow-up (P < .001). Both cervical lordosis (P = .013) and segmental angle (P = .001) were significantly increased toward lordosis at the last follow-up. The TMC subsidence rate was 31.4% (n = 11) at the last follow-up. There was no significant difference in JOA recovery rate between subsidence and no subsidence group (P = .43). All patients obtained solid fusion at 1-year follow-up. Anterior corpectomy and reconstruction with dynamic cervical plate and TMC might be an effective method for the treatment of CSM at a minimum 5-year follow-up. It can maintain or restore cervical sagittal alignment. Subsidence of the TMC did not influence the clinical outcome.