[Efficacy evaluation of treating cervical spondylopathy with the Discover artificial cervical disc prosthesis].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the clinical and radiological outcomes of Discover artificial cervical disc arthroplasty and the range of motion status on adjacent segments for cervical spondylosis causing radiculopathy or myelopathy.

METHODS

A total of 18 consecutive patients underwent cervical arthroplasty with the Discover artificial cervical disc at our hospital. Clinical and radiological follow-ups were conducted. Their radiographic parameters of treatment and adjacent segments were evaluated at Month 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 post-operation. And the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, visual analog scale (VAS) pain score and Odom's scale were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS

During follow-ups over an average of 15 months, there was no occurrence of vascular injury, severe complications or prosthesis displacement and loosening. The score of JOA was 7.2±1.8 at preoperation and 16.7±4.5 at postoperation. And the score of VAS was 8.15±1.65 at preoperation and 2.03±1.12 at postoperation.

CONCLUSION

Discover artificial cervical disc arthroplasty is efficacious and the patients recover quickly. Targeted cervical segments may be stabilized and their physiological ranges of motion preserved.