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Review
. 2021 Jan;45(1):173-180.
doi: 10.1007/s00264-020-04760-1. Epub 2020 Aug 16.

The outcomes of stand alone polyetheretherketone cages in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion

Abdulaziz F Ahmed  1 , Mohammed Al Ateeq Al Dosari  2 , Abdulaziz Al Kuwari  3 , Nasser Mehrab Khan  2
Affiliations
Review

The outcomes of stand alone polyetheretherketone cages in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion

Abdulaziz F Ahmed et al. Int Orthop. 2021 Jan.

Abstract

The procedure of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is considered as the treatment of choice in degenerative disc disease, which material provides the best clinical and radiological fusion and other outcomes remains heavily debated. Materials that augment the process of fusion consist of bone grafting, titanium, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), or carbon cages. The application of PEEK cages has been recommended as it is radiolucent, and it has a modulus of elasticity that is similar to cortical bone. PEEK cages can be either filled with various materials or unfilled cages. Filled PEEK cages can include bone autografts, bone allografts, demineralized bone matrix, and other materials that facilitate fusion. This narrative review highlights that standalone filled PEEK cages were likely to have better radiological outcomes and satisfactory clinical outcomes for myelopathy when compared with standalone unfilled PEEK cages.

Keywords: Anterior; Cages; Cervical; Discectomy; Fusion; PEEK; Polyetheretherketone.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Post-operative radiographs of a 46-year-old female who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with PEEK cages filled with bone marrow aspirate. Surgical indication was right arm radiculopathy that failed non-surgical treatment
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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