Radiological Outcome of Bony Fusion After Single Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Using Iliac Crest Graft vs. Polyetheretherketone Cage in Cervical Spondylosis

The cervical spine is the most mobile portion of the spine and is more prone to degenerative spine changes like cervical disc herniation, cervical spine stenosis, ossified posterior longitudinal ligament and osteophyte formation. Cervical spondylosis describes a variety of progressive degenerative changes that affect all components of the cervical spine (i.e., intervertebral discs, facet joints, Luschka joints, ligamentum flavum, and lamina). This is a normal aging process that affects most people in their 50's. Due to its stability, ACDF (anterior cervical discectomy and fusion) employing an iliac crest auto-graft is regarded as best, but it carries significant donor-site morbidity, hematoma formation, infection and pain etc. These morbidities leads to development of newer techniques, such as a PEEK cage. This technique lacks donor site morbidity but it is not cost-effective. The purpose of this study is to compare bony fusion between two of the most common fusion grafts: iliac crest auto-graft and PEEK(Polyetheretherketone) cage allograft, among patients undergoing ACDF in the Neurosurgical facility of Services Hospital, Lahore.