Bone grafting, implants, and plating options for anterior cervical fusions

Anterior cervical surgery became widely used in the mid-1950s as a method of treatment for cervical disc disease. Since that time, the indications for anterior cervical surgery have expanded to include degenerative conditions causing radiculopathy and myelopathy, treatment of cervical kyphosis, decompression and stabilization of cervical trauma, and resection and reconstruction of anterior cervical neoplasms. Success rates for anterior cervical surgery are generally high, however problems such as graft extrusion or collapse, bone graft donor site morbidity, and pseudarthrosis continue to present challenges. This article reviews surgical techniques, bone grafting and plating options currently in use, and discusses emerging technology that may play an expanded role in anterior cervical surgery.