Cervical foraminal area and intervertebral height changes after titanium ring cage placement: Preliminary results

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of titanium ring cage implantation on cervical foraminal area and intervertebral height. Methods Twenty-two patients with single level cervical disc herniation were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent a standard anterior cervical discectomy followed by titanium ring cage implantation. Radiographs were used for evaluation of the cervical foraminal area and intervertebral height in the pre- and postoperative periods. Results Mean intervertebral heights were 0.7 ± 0.1 cm (preoperative), 1.1 ± 0.2 cm (early postoperative) and 0.9 ± 0.2 (final measurement). Increase in intervertebral height at final follow-up was 0.2 ± 0.1 cm (22.6 ± 8.5%). Mean cervical foraminal areas were 0.4 ± 0.1 cm 2 (preoperative), 0.5 ± 0.2 cm 2 (early postoperative) and 0.5 ± 0.1 cm 2 (final measurement). Increase in cervical foraminal area at the final follow-up was 0.1 ± 0.1 cm 2. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that cervical intervertebral height and cervical foraminal area significantly increased after cervical ring cage placement but subsidence during the follow-up period negatively affects foraminal area. However, overall, there was a relative increase of foraminal area and intervertebral height when compared with preoperative values. Long-term follow-up is required to further assess the subsidence rate.