Biomechanical Comparison of 1-Level Corpectomy and 2-Level Discectomy for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: A Finite Element Analysis

BACKGROUND: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) are effective treatments for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), but it is unclear which is better. In this study, we compared the biomechanical properties of 2-level ACDF and 1-level ACCF. MATERIAL/METHODS: An intact C3–C7 cervical spine model was developed and validated, then ACDF and ACCF simulation models were developed. We imposed 1.0 Nm moments and displacement-controlled loading on the C3 superior endplate. The range of motions (ROMs) of surgical and adjacent segments and von Mises stresses on endplates, fixation systems, bone-screw interfaces, and bone grafts were recorded. RESULTS: ACDF and ACCF significantly reduced the surgical segmental ROMs to the same extent. ACCF induced much lower stress peaks in the fixation system and bone-screw interfaces and higher stress peaks on the bone graft. ACDF induced much lower stress peaks on the C4 inferior endplate and equivalent stress on the C6 superior endplate. There was no difference in the ROMs of surgical and adjacent segments and the intradiscal stress of adjacent levels between ACDF and ACCF. CONCLUSIONS: Both ACDF and ACCF can provide satisfactory spinal stability. ACDF may be beneficial for subsidence resistance due to the lower stress peaks on the endplate. The ACCF may perform better in long-term stability and bone fusion owing to the lower stress peaks in the fixation system and bone-screw interfaces, and higher stress peaks in the bone graft.