Abstract
Objective: To compare fusion time, Neck Disability scores, Pain scores, interbody height ratio and angulation, in cervical interbody fusion performed using tricortical graft or Ostapek cage, and a comparison between smokers and non smokers in fusion times.
Design: A prospective randomised study.
Subjects: Forty-two patients aged between 30 and 71years. Eighteen tricortical graft fusions, and 24 Ostapek cage fusions.
Outcome measures: Grading of fusion from plain radiographs, Neck Disability Scores, Pain scores, interbody height ratio, and interbody angulation.
Results: Mean time to good quality fusion was 4.66 months in the cage group and 5.97 months in the tri-cortical graft group with p< 0.5 and 5.00 months in the smoking population and 5.6 months in the non-smoking population with p< 0.5. At six months: mean percent NDI was 66.75 in the cage group and 50.67 in the tri-cortical graft group 0.1< p< 0.5;mean percent pain scores were 70.33 in the cage group and 34.50 in the tricortical graft group 0.02< p< 0.05; mean percent interbody height ratio was 98.68 in the cage group and 95.22 in the tricortical graft group 0.1< p< 0.5; mean change in interbody angle was 1.36° kyphosis in the cage group and 3.8° of kyphosis in the tricortical graft group 0.05< p< 0.1.
Conclusions: Tricortical graft fusion gives equal results to cage fusion and is much cheaper.
Abstracts prepared by Mr. A. J. Stirling, FRCS, and Miss A. Weaver. Correspondence should be addressed to Miss A. Weaver at the Research and Teaching Centre, Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Northfield, Birmingham, B31 2AP, UK
BritSpine 2002, the second combined meeting of the British Association of Spinal Surgeons, the British Cervical Spine Society, The British Scoliosis Society and the Society for Back Pain Research, took place at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham UK between 27th February and 1st March 2002. The following presentations and posters were given and displayed.
