Use of a bioabsorbable anterior cervical plate in the treatment of cervical degenerative and traumatic disk disruption

Anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion is a widely accepted treatment for anterior management of degenerative or traumatic instability of the cervical spine. To reduce or eliminate complications such as implant migration and failure, imaging degradation, and fusion stress shielding that are occasionally associated with spinal instrumentation, attention has been given to the use of bioresorbable anterior cervical plating devices. This paper is a preliminary report of a retrospective series in which a resorbable mesh and screw system (OS Reconstructive Mesh, MacroPore Biosurgery Inc, San Diego, Calif) was used for graft containment in single-level anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion. A review of patient charts and imaging studies was conducted to determine functional outcome, fusion success, and potential soft-tissue reaction to implant resorption. Nine patients with a diagnosis of cervical degenerative disk disease or traumatic disk disruption were treated between October 2001 and March 2002. Follow-up averaged 206 days. Eight patients were found to have an excellent result, one patient had a good result, and no patients had a satisfactory or poor result. At the time of follow-up, 77% of patients (7/9) were found to have a radiographically solid fusion. The two patients without a solid fusion were only on average 8 months out from their fusion procedure and manifested no symptoms related to fusion nonhealing. No significant soft-tissue reaction was noted clinically or radiographically in any of the patients. The results of this preliminary study indicate that bioresorbable anterior cervical plating for single-level anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion is both safe and effective.