A preliminary study of the use of cage and plating for single-segment fusion in degenerative cervical spine disease.

Three different surgical methods were used to treat single-segment degenerative cervical spine disease, and the radiological and clinical outcomes were compared. The three groups compared were: 21 cases of anterior interbody fusion with iliac autograft (group A); 20 cases of anterior plate fixation with iliac autograft (group B); and 19 cases of carbon cage fusion and anterior plate fixation (group C). Bone union and changes in Cobb's angle and interbody space were evaluated using radiographs and clinical results by the method of Odom et al. Cobb's angle increased in group C, which was significantly better than the decrease in groups A and B. The interbody space decreased in group C, but was significantly less than the decrease in groups A and B. Carbon cage and anterior plate fixation can be used as an alternative surgical treatment modality for single-segment degenerative cervical spine and can provide early stability, maintain the interbody space and cervical lordosis, reduce operation time and minimize complications at the bone graft donor site.