Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34453599›Full record

ArticleEuropean spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society2021

Clinical impact of 3-level anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) on the occipito-atlantoaxial complex: a retrospective study of patients who received a zero-profile anchored spacer versus cage-plate construct.

Bowei Xiao, Bingxuan Wu, Tianhua Rong, Wei Cui, Dacheng Sang, Baoge Liu

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
14citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.1field-weighted citation impact, top 13% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

14 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 14 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Long-term effectiveness of stand-alone anchored spacer in multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion compared with cage-plate system: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2025
    Pooled it
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  9. Outcomes of different zero-profile spacers in the treatment of two-level cervical degenerative disk disease.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2023
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Bowei Xiao *Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.119 South 4th Ring West RD, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, China.
Bingxuan Wu *Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.119 South 4th Ring West RD, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, China.
Tianhua RongDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.119 South 4th Ring West RD, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, China.
Wei CuiDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.119 South 4th Ring West RD, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, China.
Dacheng SangDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.119 South 4th Ring West RD, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, China.
Baoge LiuDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.119 South 4th Ring West RD, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, China. baogeliu@hotmail.com.ORCID 0000-0002-2156-0870
Capital Medical University · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo evaluate changes in the sagittal parameters of the occipito-atlantoaxial complex after three-level anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) and identify the influential factors by comparing ACDF with a zero-profile anchored spacer (ACDF-Z) versus a cage-plate construct (ACDF-P).

methodsThe cohort comprised 106 patients who underwent three-level contiguous ACDF-Z or ACDF-P for cervical radiculopathy and/or myelopathy. Standing, flexion, and extension radiographs of cervical spine were obtained preoperatively, and 3 and 12 months postoperatively. The assessed cervical sagittal parameters were the platform angle of the axis, Cobb angle, and range of motion (ROM) of C2⁃7, C0⁃1, and C1⁃2.

resultsIn both the ACDF-Z and ACDF-P groups, the Cobb angle of the upper cervical spine decreased and the C0-1 ROM increased from preoperatively to 3 and 12 months postoperatively (P < 0.01). The alignment restoration was lost at 12 months compared with 3 months in the ACDF-Z group, but not in the ACDF-P group (P < 0.01). The ACDF-P group showed more loss of C2-7 ROM and more compensatory changes in C0-2 ROM than the ACDF-Z group (P < 0.05).

conclusionThe Cobb angle decreased and ROM increased significantly as compensatory changes of the atlantooccipital or atlantoaxial joint after both types of ACDF, which may accelerate degeneration. The zero-profile anchored spacer had less impact on the occipito-atlantoaxial complex but was worse at maintaining the alignment restoration, which were contrary to the cage-plate construct. Surgeons should be aware of the impact of multi-level ACDFs on the occipito-atlantoaxial complex.

Indexed as

Spinal FusionCervical VertebraeDecompressionDiskectomyHumansRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeAnterior cervical decompression and fusionAxisCervical atlasCervical spondylosisSpinal fusion device

Identifiers

PMID34453599
OpenAlexW3193557830

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.