Clinical and Radiological Outcome of Disc Arthroplasty for the Treatment of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and radiological results of cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) using the CP ESP disc prosthesis.

Materials And Methods: Prospectively collected data of 56 patients with CSM have been analyzed. The mean age at surgery was 35.6 years (range: 25-43 years). The mean follow-up was 28.2 months (range: 13-42 months). The range of motion (ROM) of the index segments, as well as upper and lower adjacent segments, was measured before surgery and at final follow-up. The C2-C7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), C2-C7 cervical lordosis (CL), and T1 slope minus cervical lordosis (T1s-CL) were analyzed as well. Pain intensity was measured preoperatively and during follow-up using an 11-point numeric rating scale (NRS). Modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) score was assessed preoperatively and during follow-up for the clinical assessment of myelopathy. Surgical and implant-associated complications were analyzed as well.

Results: The NRS pain score improved from a mean of 7.4 (±1.1) preoperatively to a mean of 1.5 (±0.7) at last follow-up ( < 0.001). The mJOA score improved from a mean of 13.1 (±2.8) preoperatively to a mean of 14.8 (±2.3) at last follow-up ( < 0.001). The mean ROM of the index levels increased from 5.2° (±3.0) preoperatively to 7.3° (±3.2) at last follow-up ( < 0.05). Four patients developed heterotopic ossifications during follow-up. One patient developed permanent dysphonia.

Conclusions: CDA showed good clinical and radiological outcome in this cohort of young patients. The motion of index segments could be preserved. CDA may be a viable treatment option in selected patients with CSM.