Titanium or polymethylmethacrylate in cervical disc surgery? A prospective study.

In 200 patients with either isolated protrusion of disc or with spondylosis a cervical discectomy in one or two levels was performed from a ventral approach. In 100 patients the removed disc was replaced with an implant of polymethylmethacrylat (PMMA). In 100 patients interbodyfusion was done with a titanium cage. Both groups were analysed in a prospective study. Clinical outcome was assessed after surgery. Results were similar in terms of complications and clinical outcome. As the PMMA surgery took longer and the costs of titanium are higher, there is no marked advantage of one implant material over the other.