Early effectiveness of cervical disc replacement by using Pretic-I

Abstract

To observe the early effectiveness of cervical disc replacement with Pretic-I, a new type artificial disc. A retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 10 patients who underwent single segmental cervical disc replacement with Pretic-I from June to December 2014. Among 10 patients, 4 were male and 6 were female, with an average age of 40 years (range, 27-51 years). The mean disease duration was 15.4 months (range, 4-36 months). Affected segments located at C 4, 5 level in 1 case, at C 5, 6 level in 8 cases, and at C 6, 7 level in 1 case. The visual analogue scale (VAS), Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and neck disability index (NDI) were used to evaluate the clinical outcomes. Besides, the disc height and the range of motion (ROM) at operated level, and ROM of upper and lower adjacent level were measured to assess the function. The operation was successfully completed in all patients who were followed up for 12 months. No complications of aggravated nerve symptoms, vertebral artery injury, esophagotracheal fistula, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, incision infection, hematoma and prosthetic loosening were observed during follow-up. The VAS score, JOA score, and NDI significantly improved at each time point after operation when compared with preoperative scores ( P<0.05). The height of intervertebral disc at operated level was significantly increased at immediate and 3 months after operation when compared with preoperative one ( P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between at 6 months or 12 months after operation and at pre-operation ( P>0.05). No significant difference was shown in the ROM at operated level, and ROM of upper and lower adjacent level between at pre-operation and at each time point after operation ( P>0.05). The early effctiveness of cervical disc replacement using Pretic-I is satisfactory. The symptoms can be relieved significantly and the dynamic features of the operated level, as well as the upper and lower adjacent levels, are well preserved.