SURGICAL EXPERIENCE WITH AN IMPLANTED ARTIFICIAL CERVICAL JOINT

Object. To assess the effectiveness of Cummins' artificial cervical jo int, the authors reviewed the cases of 20 patients in whom the joint h ad been placed. Methods. A review of patients' medical records and ree xamination of 18 patients were performed. The review of the surgical e xperience with the implantation of movable stainless-steel joints in 2 0 patients treated for cervical myelopathy (16 patients), cervical rad iculopathy (three patients), and severe pain (one patient) indicated t hat the procedure is safe and well tolerated and does preserve cervica l joint motion in most patients over an extended period of observation . To date, adjacent segmental symptomatic degenerative changes leading to further surgical treatment have been avoided. The joint has been p laced in patients with advanced congenital and acquired cervical fusio n and has been demonstrated to be stable, mobile, and biomechanically and biochemically compatible; it has shown no subsidence into adjacent bone. Wear debris has not occurred. Conclusions. The use of stainless steel in the cervical spine appears to be suitable for this joint rep lacement design.