Union after multiple anterior cervical fusion 21 cases followed for 1-6 years

With a mean follow-up of 3 (1-6) years, we report on 21 patients who underwent multiple level cervical fusion, using autologous iliac crest grafts. Dissectomies were performed in 14 patients and corpectomies in another 7. Instrumentation was used in all patients with corpectomies and in 2 patients who underwent 2-level and 3-level dissectomies. Non-union occurred in 1 patient at 1 level. Graft displacement requiring reoperation was observed in 2 patients with massive corpectomies, in 1 of them as a consequence of trauma. In both patients complete bony fusion was obtained after reoperation and no other complications were observed. We conclude that the success rate with multiple-level fusion is comparable to that of single-level fusion when adequate fixation is achieve

Lumbosacral arthrodesis using pedicular screws and ringed rods

Sixty-one patients who had lumbar instability and chronic low back pain or deformity from nontraumatic lumbar pathologies were studied. In all of them a posterior lumbosacral fusion with CUN (Clinic of the University of Navarre) pedicle rod fixation was used. The mean follow-up period was 36 months (range 26-46 months). The consolidation rate was evaluated according to plain and functional radiographs, and a clinical evaluation was made using an analogue pain scale. The rate of fusion was 93.5%. Neurological complications occurred in 3.3%. The incidence of screw failure was 2.3% of all the screws. No other implant failure occurred. The patients rated their clinical results as 'excellent' in 33.8% of the cases, 'good' in 42.2%, 'fair' in 16.9% and 'poor' in 6.7%. CUN instrumentation is a versatile internal fixation system that has been shown to provide satisfactory stability. Furthermore, the clinical results are comparable to those reported in studies in which the most common hardwares were used

Lumbosacral arthrodesis using pedicular screws and ringed rods

Sixty-one patients who had lumbar instability and chronic low back pain or deformity from nontraumatic lumbar pathologies were studied. In all of them a posterior lumbosacral fusion with CUN (Clinic of the University of Navarre) pedicle rod fixation was used. The mean follow-up period was 36 months (range 26-46 months). The consolidation rate was evaluated according to plain and functional radiographs, and a clinical evaluation was made using an analogue pain scale. The rate of fusion was 93.5%. Neurological complications occurred in 3.3%. The incidence of screw failure was 2.3% of all the screws. No other implant failure occurred. The patients rated their clinical results as 'excellent' in 33.8% of the cases, 'good' in 42.2%, 'fair' in 16.9% and 'poor' in 6.7%. CUN instrumentation is a versatile internal fixation system that has been shown to provide satisfactory stability. Furthermore, the clinical results are comparable to those reported in studies in which the most common hardwares were used