Cervical myelopathy after cervical total disc arthroplasty: case report and literature review

Abstract

Study design: Case report and literature review.

Objective: This article reports 2 cases in which the patients accepted revision surgery after cervical total disc arthroplasty (CTDA) because of iatrogenic neurological injury.

Summary of background data: CTDA has been increasingly investigated to treat cervical degenerative disc disease. However, there are limited reports focused on its complications, especially the neurological complications after the procedure.

Methods: A 52-year-old man underwent total disc arthroplasty for C5-C6, but immediately after surgery, he experienced paralysis of his upper and lower limbs. Radiographical images indicated residual compression to the spinal cord in the level of C5-C6. Another patient, a 60-year-old man, underwent total disc arthroplasty for C4-C5. Afterward, he experienced severe neck pain and paralysis of upper and lower limbs. He was unresponsive to conservative treatments; thus, a laminectomy was performed 3 months later. However, little improvement was observed. Radiographical images indicated kyphosis and spinal cord compression at the level of C4-C5. Furthermore, both cases showed a high signal in the spinal cord by T2-weighted magnetic resonance image, suggestive of spinal cord injuries.

Results: Revision surgeries were performed in both cases. Cervical implants were first removed by the anterior approach, and fusion was then performed after a complete decompression. Motor examination of the patient in case 1 showed grade 3 strength in both of his hands and feet 6 months after revision surgery. In case 2, the patient's severe neck pain was resolved at the early postoperative stage. Motor examination showed grade 1 strength in both of his hands and feet 3 months after revision surgery.

Conclusion: On the basis of presented cases and other reports, the surgical goals in these patients were prioritized as follows: (1) safe and adequate neurological decompression and (2) establishment and maintenance of cervical sagittal balance. Moreover, a criterion for selecting patients undergoing CTDA needs to be established in order to reduce the occurrence of neurological complications associated with the procedure.