gms | German Medical Science

56. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie e. V. (DGNC)
3èmes journées françaises de Neurochirurgie (SFNC)

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie e. V.
Société Française de Neurochirurgie

07. bis 11.05.2005, Strasbourg

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Cervical spinal fusion with the Intromed-ZWE-System: first experience

Fusion der Halswirbelsäule mit dem Intromed-ZWE-System: erste Erfahrungen in der Anwendung

Meeting Abstract

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  • corresponding author J. Schröder - Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurochirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Münster
  • F. Große-Dresselhaus - Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurochirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Münster
  • C. Schul - Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurochirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Münster
  • H. Wassmann - Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurochirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Münster

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. Société Française de Neurochirurgie. 56. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie e.V. (DGNC), 3èmes journées françaises de Neurochirurgie (SFNC). Strasbourg, 07.-11.05.2005. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2005. DocP089

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dgnc2005/05dgnc0357.shtml

Published: May 4, 2005

© 2005 Schröder et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.

Outline

Text

Objective

After ventral discectomy in the cervical spine the implantation of a spacer is common practice. Besides bone or bone cement (Palacos®, Sulfix®, Allofix®) the surgeon has the choice from a variety of factory fashioned implants (cages). We report about our experience with the Intromed ZWE (Zwischenwirbel–Ersatzsystem)-Implantat. The ZWE-implant made from Titanium 6AL 4V consists of a flat quadrangular body with and large supporting surface on bottom and top and a central hole.

Methods

Up to now 128 cages are implanted. We report a prospective study about the first 100 of them with their one respectively two year follow up completed. The mean age was 45±9 years (range 27-73 years) The implantation was performed without filling of the central hole. Besides the clinical investigation with respect to neurological alterations and range of movement, X-rays were taken and the result was determined according to the Odom Scale.

Results

After the minimum follow-up of one year 40 scored excellent and 30 patients good, 21 patients showed a satisfying and 9 patients a bad result on the Odom scale. In 82 cases fusion occurred radiologically as bony bridging around the implant, in 15 cases the cage showed no change and no radiolucency. In CT-scans done in two patients with complaints we confirmed bony bridging inside the centre hole implanted empty. We observed three not implant related complications (temporary laryngeus recurrens paresis) and one ventral implant subluxation as implant related complication, which was revised with excellent outcome.

Conclusions

The Intromed-ZWE-System performs well in routine clinical use. Compared to bone or bone cement operating time is reduced. The Intromed System offers an easy fusion method for a competitive price.