The Spine Journal
Volume 9, Issue 2, February 2009, Pages 128-133

Sagittal balance influences range of motion: an in vivo study with the ProDisc-C
Clinical Studies

Doron Rabin MDa, Rudolf Bertagnoli MDb, Nicholas Wharton MSc, Gwynedd E. Pickett MD FRCS(C)a and Neil Duggal MD FRCS(C)a, ,

a Division of Neurosurgery, London Health Sciences Center, London, Ontario N6A 5A5, Canada
b Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Spine Center, St. Elisabeth Klinikum, Straubing, Germany
c Medical Metrics, Inc., Houston, TX, USA


Background context

Cervical arthroplasty is designed to maintain cervical motion of the functional spinal unit after cervical discectomy. The impact of the ProDisc-C (Synthes Spine, Paoli, PA) on in vivo kinematics and sagittal alignment requires further assessment.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that the ProDisc-C increases range of motion (ROM) in flexion and extension at the surgical level, and assess its impact on cervical alignment.

Study design

Clinical study.

Patient sample

Fifteen patients with a mean age of 49 years were included in this study. Each patient had a single-level arthroplasty. Patients with multilevel arthroplasty, previous cervical spine surgery, and length of follow-up less than 6 months were excluded from this study.

Outcome measure

Lateral dynamic radiographs of the cervical spine were analyzed using quantitative measurement analysis (QMA) preoperatively and postoperatively. QMA software was also used to determine the ROM and sagittal translation at the surgical level.

Methods

Flexion/extension lateral radiographs of the cervical spine were prospectively collected and reviewed in 15 patients preoperatively and at early (1–3 months) and late (6–14 months) follow-up after placement of the ProDisc-C. Shell angle (SA) and C2–C7 Cobb angles were measured. Sagittal translation and ROM were calculated at each time point. Preoperative values were compared with early and late follow-up values using paired Student t tests and Pearson's correlation.

Results

The C2–C7 Cobb angle did not change significantly after surgery. Segmental ROM increased significantly from neutral to flexion (p=.02) and neutral to extension (p=.002) at late follow-up. SA correlated significantly with ROM from neutral to extension (Pearson's r=−0.55; p=.02) and translation from neutral to extension (Pearson's r=−0.58; p=.02).

Conclusions

The ProDisc-C increased overall segmental ROM. A lordotic SA may be associated with restricted segmental ROM and translation in extension. This study did not detect any change in overall cervical spinal alignment after insertion of the device.

Keywords: Arthroplasty; ProDisc-C; Spinal kinematics; Degenerative disc disease; Range of motion; Kyphosis

Copyright © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.