A review of 17 patients who had undergone anterior cervical disectomy and fusion was performed to analyze the change of the neighbouring disks. Their ages renged from 43 to 65 years old (average; 49 yeras old) at the time of operation. The follow-up period ranged from more than 8 years to 27 years (average; 14 years). The number of fused inter-vertebrae were 1 in 5 cases, 2 in 6 cases, 3 in 4 cases, and 4 in 2 cases.
Of 17 cases, 14 cases have radiographic changes on the neibouring disks of fused vertebrae. There were narrowing in 8 cases, olisthesis in 8 cases, and fusion in 2 cases.
2 cases had non-union in the previously fused vertebrae.
These changes were influened by the factors including the number, portion, and alignment of the fused vertebrae.
