Elective non-instrumented anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion in Ghana: A preliminary report

Abstract

Background: This study is a retrospective analysis of forty-one consecutive patients who underwent elective single or multilevel anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion (ACDF) in Ghana. All the patients had been followed up for at least six months. Methods: The medical records of forty-one consecutive cases were analysed retrospectively. The parameters reviewed included patient demographics and presentations, number of fusion levels, complications and clinical outcome. Result: Non-instrumented ACDF constituted 22% of all the neurosurgical procedures performed during the study period. A total of 41 patients underwent the procedure. Seventy-eight percent of the patients were male; the mean age of all the patients was 52 years; follow-up was for an average of 21 months. Preoperative assessment revealed that 98% had myelopathy and 2% had radiculopathy only. No patient was operated on for only pain. There were no repeat operations performed. All levels operated on were fused for a total of 67 levels; 37% at one level only and 63% at two levels; no patient was fused or operated on at three levels. Ninety percent of the fusions were at the C4 - 5 and C5 - 6 levels. The mean ages of males and females fused at one level only were 48 and 60 years respectively; the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). For patients fused at two levels; 81% were males and 19% were females, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). However, there was no statistical difference between the ages of males and females operated on at two levels (P>0.05). In addition there was no statistical difference between the ages of males operated on at one level or two levels nor was there a difference between the ages of females operated on at one or two levels (P>0.05). The mean preoperative Nurick grade was 2.3 (SD, 1.9); the mean Nurick grade postoperation was 1.3 (SD, 1.3). The difference is significant (P<0.001). There was also a significant relationship between the preoperative and postoperative Nurick grades for males operated on at either one or two levels (P<0.01); however none could be demonstrated for females (P>0.01). The total operative complication rate was 12%; the most common complication was graft/donor site infection (7%). There was no operative or postoperative mortality. Eighty six percent of the patients had an excellent or good clinical outcome as defined by Odom's criteria. Of the 34% who did not have excellent or good clinical outcome, follow up radiologic studies showed excellent graft fusion in all of them. Conclusion. The majority of patients undergoing non-instrumented ACDF in Ghana have cervical myelopathy involving two cervical levels. However, a large majority of them have excellent or good clinical results after surgery. The most common complication is graft/donor site infection.