A SURGICAL TECHNIQUE FOR A VERTEBRAL COLUMN AUTOGRAFT USING THE INTERVERTEBRAL DISC FOR CERVICAL DISC DISEASE

We describe a surgical technique for a vertebral column autograft usin g the intervertebral disc for cervical disc disease for patients whose major problem is not spinal instability. Of a total of 41 patients wi th cervical disc disease suffering from cervical spondylotic radiculom yelopathy, 33 patients were operated on at one level and 8 patients we re operated on at two levels. Postoperative X-ray him showed some move ment at the ''operated'' disc level in all patients (average postopera tive follow-up period was 43 months, range two years to 5 years). A si gnificant decrease in motion in the extension position was observed po stoperatively (p < 0.0001), but no significant difference was observed between the preoperative motion and the postoperative motion in the f lexion position. Anterior angulation was found in two (5%) of the 41 p atients. This surgical procedure has two major advantages: I)no compli cations related to the iliac donor site, allowing early patient mobili zation; 2) the extensive posterior spur can be removed safely and easi ly under a wide operative field. We believe that this surgical procedu re is suitable for preserving the mobility of the spine and may avoid stress concentration at adjacent levels of the ''operated'' disc. Howe ver, in patients whose major problem is spinal instability, anterior c ervical fusion should be performed.