ASSESSMENT OF OUTCOMES OF PATIENTS UNDERGOING DISC PRESERVING FUNCTIONAL CERVICAL DISC SURGERY

The concept of accelerated degeneration of adjacent disc levels as a consequence of increased stress caused by inter body fusion of cervical spine is widely accepted. These phenomenon supports the hypothesis that reconstruction of an intervertebral disc after discectomy with functional disc prosthesis would offer benefit. Degeneration of an intervertebral disc involves progressive dehydration and fibrosis of the nucleus pulposus. These modifications induce loss of elasticity, loss of intervertebral height, formation of osseous spurs, cracking and bulging of the annulus fibrosus, and eventually, extrusion of nucleus tissue. Hence based on above findings the present study was planned for Assessment of Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Disc Preserving Functional Cervical Disc Surgery. The present study was planned in Department of Neurosurgery, SKMCH, Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India. Total 10 cases operated for cervical radiculopathy were enrolled in the present study. Diagnostic evaluation was performed by anterior posterior and lateral standard radiographs of the cervical spine and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation of the cervical spine. All patients had follow up X-ray of the cervical spine anterior and posterior view with flexion and extension study, at 4 weeks and at subsequent follow up. The data generated from the present study concluded that the major symptoms experienced by the patients were neck and radicular pain. C6-7 cervical root level was affected in majority patients. Majority of the had an excellent surgical results. Post operative follow up X-ray after 6 months revealed adequate motion at the operated site. Keywords: Cervical Disc Surgery, Cervical radiculopathy, Disc preserving, Disc Herniation, etc.