Effects of anti-osteoporosis treatment in the elderly with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of anti-osteoporosis treatment on radiological and functional results following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).
Methods: Medical records of 59 patients (Mean age 68.1 years, 36 males and 23 females) who had ACDF surgery between January 2010 and December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Antiosteoporotic treatment group consisted of 31 patients and non-antiosteoporotic treatment group consisted of 28 patients. The height of intervertebral space (HIS), cervical alignment (CA), segmental angle (SA), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were compared between the groups, preoperatively, postoperatively, and at final follow-up.
Results: There were significant differences at final follow-up between the 2 groups in SA (p=0.03), HIS (p=0.03), and VAS (p=0.03) for upper limb pain, in favor of antiosteoporotic treatment.
Conclusion: Anti-osteoporotic treatment appear to improve the radiological and functional results following following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.

Keywords

• Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion; elderly patients; osteoporosis; retrospective study