A Comparison of Multilevel Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Corpectomy in Patients With 4-level Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: a Minimum 2-year Follow-up Study

Study Design: Retrospective clinical series. Objectives: To compare perioperative parameters, clinical outcomes, radiographic parameters, and complication rates of segmental anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (sACCF) plus preservation of middle vertebrae with those of multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (mACDF) in 70 patients with 4-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). Methods: Between July 2006 and May 2011, 70 consecutive patients [49 males and 21 females; mean age 56.8 y (range, 38–72 years)] with 4-level CSM were enrolled in this study and divided into sACCF (n=39) group and mACDF (n=31) group. The study compared perioperative parameters, complication rates, clinical parameters, and radiologic parameters. Results: No significant differences between the groups were found in demographic, baseline disease characteristics, operation time, hospital stay, and follow-up time. Significant improvements of clinical outcome were seen from preoperative to postoperative in both groups. Satisfaction was rated as excellent or good by 79.5% of the sACCF group and 80.6% of the mACDF group, which was not a significant difference. Mean postoperative cervical lordosis was significantly greater in the mACDF group than in the sACCF group. Blood loss was significantly greater in the sACCF group than in the mACDF group and instrumentation-related and/or graft-related complication rate significantly lower for the mACDF group. Both sACCF and mACDF groups achieved solid fusion rates (87.1% and 90.3%, respectively). Conclusions: Both mACDF and sACCF provide satisfactory clinical outcomes and fusion rates for 4-level CSM. However, mACDF is associated with better radiologic parameter, less blood loss, and lower instrumentation-related and/or graft-related complication rate.