The anterior approach to achieve arthrodesis of the cervica spine has become a widely accepted and often-used approach since its earliest repopts by Bailey and Badgley. Smith and Robinson and Cloward. However, anterior interbody fusion in the
presence
of the posterior instability may be complicated by the bone graft dislodgement, kyphotic de-formity of nonunion, As an attemp to prevent this undesirable complications ,additional methods such as skeletal traction. Halo appratus or even posterior
fusion
has been util-ized.
The combination of the ASIF cervical plate (H-plate) with the anterior intervertebral body bone grafting provides immediate cervical stabilization and widely successful in achieving fusion.
This study analysed 36 patient who underwent a single anterior procedure and applica-tion of anterior cervical plates for the treatment of the lower cervical spinal disease. The average age of the patient was 45 years, and the mean follow up
periods was
23 months ranging from 12 to 32 months, Fifteen patients were traumatic lesion and twenty-one cases were non-traumatic Iesions. Two level fusion were 12 cases and three level fusion were three. Ambulation as started from eighth day after
operation
with
the aid of the orthosis and there were no neurologic deterioration after operation. Bone union was observed all but two cases on average 10 weeks after operation and the overall fusion rate was 94.4%.
The improvement of the neurologic status were observed in all but complete quadriple-gic patients. The complications were one screw loosening with pseudarthrosis, one screw breakage with pseudarthrosis and pseudarthrosis and one hematoma at the
operation site.
It is concluded that the anterior decompression, bone grafting and metallic osteosynth-esis are thought to be a safe and valuable method for treating lower cervical spinal disorders.
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