Ten-Year Outcomes of 1- and 2-Level Cervical Disc Arthroplasty From the Mobi-C Investigational Device Exemption Clinical Trial

Neurosurgery 88:497–505, 2021

Short- and mid-term studies have shown the effectiveness of cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) to treat cervical disc degeneration.

OBJECTIVE: To report the 10-yr outcomes of a multicenter experience with cervical arthroplasty for 1- and 2-level pathology.

METHODS: This was a prospective study of patients treated with CDA at 1 or 2 contiguous levels using the Mobi-C ®  Cervical Disc (Zimmer Biomet).  Following completion of the 7-yr Food and Drug Administration postapproval study, follow-up continued to 10 yr for consenting patients at 9 high-enrolling centers. Clinical and radiographic endpoints were collected out to 10 yr.

RESULTS: At 10 yr, patients continued to have significant improvement over baseline Neck Disability Index (NDI), neck and arm pain, neurologic function, and segmental range of motion (ROM). NDI and pain outcomes at 10 yr were significantly improved from 7 yr. Segmental and global ROM and sagittal alignment also were maintained from 7 to 10 yr. Clinically relevant adjacent segment pathology was not significantly different between 7 and 10 yr. The incidence of motion restricting heterotopic ossification at 10 yr was not significantly different from 7 yr for 1-level (30.7% vs 29.6%) or 2-level (41.7% vs 39.2%) patients. Only 2 subsequent surgeries were reported after 7 yr.

CONCLUSION: Our results through 10 yr were comparable to 7-yr outcomes, demonstrating that CDA with Mobi-C ® continues to be a safe and effective surgical treatment for patients with 1- or 2-level cervical degenerative disc disease.

 

Heterotopic ossification and radiographic adjacent-segment disease after cervical disc arthroplasty

J Neurosurg Spine 31:660–669, 2019

Cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) is an accepted motion-sparing technique associated with favorable patient outcomes. However, heterotopic ossification (HO) and adjacent-segment degeneration are poorly understood adverse events that can be observed after CDA. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively examine 1) the effect of the residual exposed endplate (REE) on HO, and 2) identify risk factors predicting radiographic adjacent-segment disease (rASD) in a consecutive cohort of CDA patients.

METHODS A retrospective cohort study was performed on consecutive adult patients (≥ 18 years) who underwent 1- or 2-level CDA at the University of Calgary between 2002 and 2015 with > 1-year follow-up. REE was calculated by subtracting the anteroposterior (AP) diameter of the arthroplasty device from the native AP endplate diameter measured on lateral radiographs. HO was graded using the McAfee classification (low grade, 0–2; high grade, 3 and 4). Change in AP endplate diameter over time was measured at the index and adjacent levels to indicate progressive rASD.

RESULTS Forty-five patients (58 levels) underwent CDA during the study period. The mean age was 46 years (SD 10 years). Twenty-six patients (58%) were male. The median follow-up was 29 months (IQR 42 months). Thirty-three patients (73%) underwent 1-level CDA. High-grade HO developed at 19 levels (33%). The mean REE was 2.4 mm in the high-grade HO group and 1.6 mm in the low-grade HO group (p = 0.02). On multivariable analysis, patients with REE > 2 mm had a 4.5-times-higher odds of developing high-grade HO (p = 0.02) than patients with REE ≤ 2 mm. No significant relationship was observed between the type of artificial disc and the development of high-grade HO (p = 0.1). RASD was more likely to develop in the lower cervical spine (p = 0.001) and increased with time (p < 0.001). The presence of an artificial disc was highly protective against degenerative changes at the index level of operation (p < 0.001) but did not influence degeneration in the adjacent segments.

CONCLUSIONS In patients undergoing CDA, high-grade HO was predicted by REE. Therefore, maximizing the implant-endplate interface may help to reduce high-grade HO and preserve motion. RASD increases in an obligatory manner following CDA and is highly linked to specific levels (e.g., C6–7) rather than the presence or absence of an adjacent arthroplasty device. The presence of an artificial disc is, however, protective against further degenerative change at the index level of operation.

Lumbar disc arthroplasty versus anterior lumbar interbody fusion: 5-year outcomes for patients in the Maverick disc investigational device exemption study

J Neurosurg Spine 31:347–356, 2019

Despite evidence of its safety and effectiveness, the use of lumbar disc arthroplasty has been slow to expand due in part to concerns about late complications and the risks of revision surgery associated with early devices. More recently, FDA approval of newer devices and improving reimbursements have reversed this trend in the United States. Additional long-term data on lumbar disc arthroplasty are still needed. This study reports the 5-year results of the FDA investigational device exemption clinical trial of the Medtronic Spinal and Biologics’ Maverick total disc replacement.

METHODS Patients with single-level degenerative disc disease from L4 to S1 were randomized 2:1 at 31 investigational sites. In the period from April 2003 to August 2004, 405 patients received the investigational device and 172 patients underwent the control procedure of anterior lumbar interbody fusion. Outcome measures included the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), numeric rating scales (NRSs) for back and leg pain, the SF-36, disc height, interbody motion, heterotopic ossification (investigational device), adverse events (AEs), additional surgeries, and neurological status. Treatment was considered an overall success when all of the following criteria were met: 1) ODI score improvement ≥ 15 points over the preoperative score; 2) maintenance or improvement in neurological status compared with preoperatively; 3) disc height success, that is, no more than a 2-mm reduction in anterior or posterior height; 4) no serious AEs caused by the implant or by the implant and the surgical procedure; and 5) no additional surgery classified as a failure.

RESULTS Compared to that in the control group, improvement in the investigational group was statistically greater according to the ODI and SF-36 Physical Component Summary (PCS) at 1, 2, and 5 years; the NRS for back pain at 1 and 2 years; and the NRS for leg pain at 1 year. The rates of heterotopic ossification increased over time: 1.0% (4/382) at 1 year, 2.6% (9/345) at 2 years, and 5.9% (11/187) at 5 years. Investigational patients had fewer device-related AEs and serious device-related AEs than the control patients at both 2 and 5 years postoperatively. Noninferiority of the composite measure overall success was demonstrated at all follow-up intervals; superiority was demonstrated at 1 and 2 years.

CONCLUSIONS Lumbar disc arthroplasty is a safe and effective treatment for single-level lumbar degenerative disc disease, resulting in improved physical function and reduced pain up to 5 years after surgery.

Clinical trial registration no.: NCT00635843 (clinicaltrials.gov)

 

Effects of smoking on cervical disc arthroplasty

J Neurosurg Spine 30:168–174, 2019

Cigarette smoking can adversely affect bone fusion in patients who undergo anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. However, there is a paucity of data on smoking among patients who have undergone cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA). The present study aimed to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of smokers to those of nonsmokers following CDA.

METHODS The authors retrospectively reviewed the records of consecutive patients who had undergone 1- or 2-level CDA for cervical disc herniation or spondylosis and had a minimum 2-year follow-up. All patients were grouped into a smoking group, which consisted of those who had consumed cigarettes within 6 months prior to the CDA surgery, or a nonsmoking group, which consisted of those who had not consumed cigarettes at all or within 6 months of the CDA. Clinical outcomes were evaluated according to the visual analog scale for neck and arm pain, Neck Disability Index, Japanese Orthopaedic Association Scale, and Nurick Scale at each time point of evaluation. Radiological outcomes were assessed using radiographs and CT for multiple parameters, including segmental range of motion (ROM), neutral lordotic curve, and presence of heterotopic ossification (HO).

RESULTS A total of 109 patients completed at least 2 years of follow-up and were analyzed (mean follow-up 42.3 months). There were 89 patients in the nonsmoking group and 20 in the smoking group. The latter group was younger and predominantly male (both p < 0.05) compared to the nonsmoking group. The two groups had similar improvements in all clinical outcomes after CDA compared to preoperatively. Radiological evaluations were also very similar between the two groups, except for two factors. The smoking group had well-preserved segmental ROM after CDA at an average of 8.1° (both pre- and postoperation). However, while the nonsmoking group remained mobile, segmental ROM decreased significantly (8.2° to 6.9°, p < 0.05) after CDA. There was a trend toward more HO development in the nonsmoking group than in the smoking group, but the difference was without significance (59.6% vs 50.0%, p = 0.43).

CONCLUSIONS During an average 3.5 years of follow-up after 1- and 2-level CDA, cigarette smokers and nonsmokers had similar improvements in clinical outcomes. Moreover, segmental mobility was slightly better preserved in smokers. Since smoking status did not negatively impact outcomes, CDA may be a reasonable option for selected patients who have smoked.

Four-year results of a prospective single-arm study on 200 semi-constrained total cervical disc prostheses

activ-c-xray

J Neurosurg Spine 25:556–565, 2016

Recent studies have described encouraging outcomes after cervical total disc replacement (cTDR), but there are also critical debates regarding the long-term effects of heterotopic ossification (HO) and the prevalence of adjacent-level degeneration. The aim in this paper was to provide 4-year clinical and radiographic outcome results on the activ C disc prosthesis.

Methods A total of 200 subjects underwent single-level activ C (Aesculap AG) implantation between C-3 and C-7 for the treatment of symptomatic degenerative disc disease. Clinical and radiographic assessments were performed preoperatively, intraoperatively, at discharge, and again at 6 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 4 years. Radiographic evaluations were done by an independent core laboratory using a specific software for quantitative motion analysis.

Results Neck Disability Index (NDI) and visual analog scale (VAS) score for neck and arm pain decreased significantly from baseline to the 4-year follow-up. The mean improvement for NDI was 20, for VAS severity and frequency of neck pain 26.4 and 28, and for VAS severity and frequency of arm pain 30.7 and 35.1, respectively. The neurological situation improved for the majority of patients (86.4%); 76.1% of cases were asymptomatic. Subsequent surgical interventions were reported in 7% of the cases, including device removals in 3%. In 2.5% a subsidence greater than 3 mm was recorded; 1 of these cases also had a migration greater than 3 mm. No device displacement, expulsion, disassembly, loose or fractured device, osteolysis, or facet joint degeneration at the index level was observed. Segmental lordotic alignment changed from -2.4° preoperatively to -6.2° at 4 years, and postoperative height was maintained during the follow-up. Advanced HO (Grade III and IV) was present in 27.1% of the cases; 82.4% showed segmental mobility. A progression of radiographic adjacent-segment degeneration occurred in 28.2%, but only 4.5% required surgical treatment.

Conclusions The activ C is a safe and effective device for cervical disc replacement confirming the encouraging results after cTDR.

Differences between 1- and 2-level cervical arthroplasty

J Neurosurg Spine 16:594–600, 2012. (http://thejns.org/doi/abs/10.3171/2012.2.SPINE111066)

The most currently accepted indication for cervical arthroplasty is 1- or 2-level degenerative disc disease (DDD) refractory to medical treatment. However, the randomized and controlled clinical trials by the US FDA investigational device exemption studies only compared cervical arthroplasty with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for 1-level disease. Theoretically, 2-level cervical spondylosis usually implicates more advanced degeneration, whereas the 1-level DDD can be caused by merely a soft-disc herniation. This study aimed to investigate the differences between 1- and 2-level cervical arthroplasty.

Methods. The authors analyzed data obtained in 87 consecutive patients who underwent 1- or 2-level cervical arthroplasty with Bryan disc. The patients were divided into the 1-level and the 2-level treatment groups. Clinical outcomes were measured using the visual analog scale (VAS) for the neck and arm pain and the Neck Disability Index (NDI), with a minimum follow-up of 30 months. Radiographic outcomes were evaluated on both radiographs and CT scans.

Results. The study analyzed 98 levels of Bryan cervical arthroplasty in 70 patients (80.5%) who completed the evaluations in a mean follow-up period of 46.21 ± 9.85 months. There were 22 females (31.4%) and 48 males (68.6%), whose mean age was 46.57 ± 10.07 years at the time of surgery. The 1-level group had 42 patients (60.0%), while the 2-level group had 28 patients (40.0%). Patients in the 1-level group were younger than those in the 2-level group (mean 45.00 vs 48.93 years, p = 0.111 [not significant]). Proportional sex compositions and perioperative prescription of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs were also similar in both groups (p = 0.227 and p = 1.000). The 2-level group had significantly greater EBL during surgery than the 1-level group (220.80 vs 111.89 ml, p = 0.024). Heterotopic ossification was identified more frequently in the 2-level group than the 1-level group (75.0% vs 40.5%, p = 0.009). Although most of the artificial discs remained mobile during the follow up, the 2-level group had fewer mobile discs (100% and 85.7%, p = 0.022) than the 1-level group. However, in both groups, the clinical outcomes measured by VAS for neck pain, VAS for arm pain, and NDI all significantly improved after surgery compared with that preoperatively, and there were no significant differences between the groups at any point of evaluation (that is, at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery).

Conclusions. Clinical outcomes of 1- and 2-level cervical arthroplasty were similar at 46 months after surgery, and patients in both groups had significantly improved compared with preoperative status. However, there was a significantly higher rate of heterotopic ossification formation and less mobility of the Bryan disc in patients who underwent 2-level arthroplasty. Although mobility to date has been maintained in the vast majority (94.3%) of patients, the long-term effects of heterotopic ossification warrant further investigation.

Early development and progression of heterotopic ossification in cervical total disc replacement

J Neurosurg Spine 16:31–36, 2012. DOI: 10.3171/2011.8.SPINE11303

The purpose of cervical total disc replacement (TDR) is to decrease the incidence of adjacent segment disease through motion preservation. Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a well-known complication after hip and knee arthroplasties. There are few reports regarding HO in patients undergoing cervical TDR, however; and the occurrence of HO and its effects on cervical motion have rarely been reported. Moreover, temporal progression of HO has not been fully addressed. One goal of this study involved determining the incidence of HO following cervical TDR, as identified from plain radiographs, and demonstrating the progression of HO during the follow-up period. A second goal consisted of determining whether segmental motion could be preserved and identifying the relationship between HO and clinical outcomes.

Methods. The authors conducted a retrospective clinical and radiological study of 28 consecutive patients who underwent cervical TDR with Mobi-C prostheses (LDR Medical) between September 2006 and October 2008. Radiological outcomes were evaluated using lateral dynamic radiographs obtained preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. The occurrence of HO was interpreted on lateral radiographs using the McAfee classification. Cervical range of motion (ROM) was also measured. The visual analog scale (VAS) and Neck Disability Index (NDI) were used to evaluate clinical outcome.

Results. The mean follow-up period was 21.6 ± 7.0 months, and the mean occurrence of HO was at 8.0 ± 6.6 months postoperatively. At the last follow-up, 18 (64.3%) of 28 patients had HO: Grade I, 6 patients; Grade II, 8 patients; Grade III, 3 patients; and Grade IV, 1 patient. Heterotopic ossification progression was proportional to the duration of follow-up; HO was present in 3 (10.7%) of 28 patients at 1 month; 7 (25.0%) of 28 patients at 3 months; 11 (42.3%) of 26 patients at 6 months; 15 (62.5%) of 24 patients at 12 months; and 17 (77.3%) of 22 patients at 24 months. Cervical ROM was preserved in Grades I and II HO but was restricted in Grades III and IV HO. Clinical improvement according to the VAS and NDI was not significantly correlated with the occurrence of HO.

Conclusions. The overall incidence of HO after cervical TDR was relatively high. Moreover, HO began unexpectedly to appear early after surgery. Heterotopic ossification progression was proportional to the time that had elapsed postoperatively. Grade III or IV HO can restrict the cervical ROM and may lead to spontaneous fusion; however, the occurrence of HO did not affect clinical outcome. The results of this study indicate that a high incidence of HO with the possibility of spontaneous fusion is to be expected during long-term follow-up and should be considered before performing cervical TDR.

Radiologically documented adjacent-segment degeneration after cervical arthroplasty

Surgical Neurology 72 (2009) 325–329. doi:10.1016/j.surneu.2009.02.013

Background: The authors retrospectively studied the incidence and characteristics of radiologically documented adjacent-segment degeneration after single-level diskectomy and subsequent cervical arthroplasty using the Bryan (Medtronic Sofamor Danek; Memphis, TN) disk prosthesis.

Methods: Seventy-two patients with single-level arthroplasty using the Bryan cervical disk prosthesis were evaluated. Radiological evidence of adjacent-disk disease included new formation or enlargement of anterior osteophyte, new or increasing ALL calcification, or narrowing of disk space documented on serial plain radiographs. We reported the characteristics of adjacent-segment degeneration and reviewed all of the cases.

Results: Among the 72 patients, 9 patients (12.5%) showed radiological evidence of adjacentsegment degeneration. The mean age was 43.3 years old, with a male-female ratio 1:3. The mean follow-up period was 24.2 (12.1-35.9) months. The mean period of onset was 16.3 months. Uppersegment degeneration was documented in 4 cases (3 new osteophyte, 1 enlargement of osteophyte), whereas lower-segment degeneration was noted in 5 cases (1 new osteophyte, 3 enlargement of osteophyte, 1 decreased disk height). Among the degenerated cases, 4 cases (44.4%) also showed various degrees of HO.

Conclusions: The rate of adjacent-segment degeneration was higher than that observed in previous studies. Adjacent-segment degeneration documented a tendency toward HO. A longer follow-up period is necessary to investigate and document the different types of degeneration seen at levels adjacent to artificial Bryan cervical disk prostheses.