B. Zoëga, J. Kärrholm, B. Lind


August 1998, Volume 7, Issue 4, pp 302 - 307 Original article Read Full Article 10.1007/s005860050079

First Online: 27 August 1998

This study evaluated whether addition of a cervical spine locking plate (CSLP) in two-level disc fusions improved the postoperative stability and reduced the time to healing. Radiostereometric analysis was used to obtain precise recordings of the three-dimensional motion between the fused vertebrae. Eighteen consecutive patients were operated on with excision of two adjacent cervical discs and anterior horseshoe grafting with autologous bone (Smith Robinson technique). Nine patients were randomized to stabilization with autologous bone grafting and CSLP plate fixation and nine patients to grafting without fixation. Clinical symptoms in terms of pain in the neck and the arm were analysed preoperatively and after 1 year using a visual analogue scale (VAS). The patients operated without a plate displayed increased rotations around the transverse axis, corresponding to the development of a kyphosis [mean value no plate/plate 14.4°/0.8° (repeated measure ANOVA: P


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