Cervical disc prosthesis: 2-year follow-up

OBJECTIVE: To review the medical records of patients who underwent surgery for placement of cervical disc prosthesis after two years of postoperative follow-up, showing the basic epidemiological data, the technical aspects and the incidence of complications.METHODS: Medical records of seven patients who underwent surgery for placement of cervical disc prosthesis were reviewed after two years of follow-up, at the Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo.RESULTS: The average age of patients participating in this study was 43.86 years. Six patients (85.7%) had one level approached while one patient (14.3%) had two levels addressed. The level C5-C6 has been approached in one patient (14.3%) while the C6-C7 level was addressed in five patients (71.4%). One patient (14.3%) had these two levels being addressed, C5-C6 and C6-C7. The mean operative time was 164.29±40 minutes. Three patients were hospitalized for 2 days and four for 3 days making an average of 2.57±0.535 days. Two patients (28.6%) underwent a new surgical intervention due to loosening of the prosthesis. The mean follow-up was 28.14±5.178 months (23-35 months).CONCLUSIONS: Although cervical arthroplasty appears to be a safe procedure and present promising results in our study as well as in many other studies, it requires long-term studies.