• Zeena Dorai, Howard Morgan, and Caetano Coimbra.
• Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-8855, USA. zdorai@excite.com
• J. Neurosurg. 2003 Jul 1; 99 (1 Suppl): 3-7.

ObjectThe authors evaluated the efficacy of titanium cage- and anterior cervical plate (ACP)-augmented fusion for reconstruction following decompressive cervical corpectomy in nontraumatic disease.MethodsForty-five patients ranging from 37 to 77 years of age underwent anterior cervical corpectomy followed by titanium cage-assisted reconstruction in which the cages were filled with autologous bone obtained from the resected vertebral bodies (VBs). Plates were placed in all patients. Follow-up radiographic evaluation included computerized tomography scanning and plain flexion-extension radiography. Fusion was demonstrated in all but one patient without reconstruction-related complications. The single complication involved an endplate VB fracture with pistoning of the cage into the VB. The mean follow-up period was 12.9 months.ConclusionsAutologous corpectomy bone-filled titanium cages supplemented with ACPs are an effective means of reconstruction after compressive cervical corpectomy. This technique provides a reasonable alternative to procedures involving long solid strut grafts obtained from the bone bank or from the patient.

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