Anterior Cervical Spine Fusion by Carbon Cages

Cervical disc disease and spondylosis were subjected to compelete clinical examination, laboratory and radiological investigations.Of these forty cases 23 cases were single level and 12 cases were double level while 6 cases were three levels and a single case had 4 levels internally fixed using carbon fiber cage.The following factors could be concluded :-1- Males are more affected than females2- The most common complaint was neck pain (interscapular) pain followed by brachialgia.3) Radiological: plain x- ray is helpful to demonstrate the cervical curve condition, osteophytes, narrowing of the intervertebral space and instability while MR I is the best to show the causative lesion (soft disc or osteophytes) and to show the cord condition (presence or absence of myelomalacia).4- The most common level affected is C 5-6 followed by C6-7.5- The use of carbon fiber cages abolishes the graft donor site complications such as pain, hematoma or infection.6- The use of cage decreases markedly the use of bone graft complications such as dislodgment. resorption and pseudoarthrosis.7- The use of cage is helpful in opening the intervertebral space and correction of the cervical curve (kyphotic or straight) to lordotic or as much as possible near lordosis due to its design higher anteriorly than posteriorly.8- Subsidence is a draw back to the use of cage but however it can be minimized by avoiding over curretage of the bony end plate.9- Subsidence is more noticed when more than one level is used particularly were more than 2 levels are performed.10- Minimal subsidence is inevitable and acceptable.11- The use of cage doesnot add lo the operative lime and shortens the hospital stay as if allows early ambulation without pain.