Two-year follow-up results of artificial disc replacement C7-T1

Artificial disc replacement has been widely used in the lumbar spine since the 1980s, and more recently in the cervical spine. However, artificial disc replacement in the cervicothoracic and thoracic regions is very rare. A 43-year-old otherwise healthy male suffered from right sided cervicobrachialgia. X-rays and MRI revealed left C5/6, C6/7 and C7-T1 disc herniation, compromising the neural foramen at the right C6 and C8 nerve roots seriously. A hybrid surgery of artificial disc replacement C7-T1 combined with fusion C5-C6 was performed via a standard anterior Smith-Robinson approach. In this case, a 7 # Zero-P spacer (Synthes GmbH, Oberdorf, Switzerland) was implanted at the level of C5-6 and a 6*16 mm Prestige-LP (Medtronic) was implanted at the level of C7-T1. Postoperative complications such as hoarseness, dysphagia, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, were not found. His clinical symptoms including pain, numbness and faint were completely relieved 3 months after surgery. The 24 months postoperative X-ray shows the good position of the implant. A hybrid surgery of artificial disc replacement C7-T1 combined with fusion C5-C6 can be safely and successfully performed via a classic right Smith-Robinson approach. Artificial disc replacement C7-T1 may be an attractive option in these carefully selected patients. However, larger studies of longer follow-up duration are needed.