Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35051329›Full record

ArticleAsian spine journal2022

Impact of Interspace Distraction on Fusion and Clinical Outcomes in Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Michael H Lawless, Elise J Yoon, Jacob M Jasinski, Joseph Gabrail, Noah Jordan, Karl Kado, Doris Tong, Teck M Soo, Daniel A Carr

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Asian spine journal, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Effects of excessive distraction during anterior cervical spine surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical outcomes, radiological changes, and complications.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 · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
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

9 authors.

Michael H LawlessDivision of Neurosurgery, Ascension Providence Hospital, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Southfield, MI, USA.
Elise J YoonDivision of Neurosurgery, Ascension Providence Hospital, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Southfield, MI, USA.
Jacob M JasinskiDivision of Neurosurgery, Ascension Providence Hospital, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Southfield, MI, USA.
Joseph GabrailDivision of Neurosurgery, Ascension Providence Hospital, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Southfield, MI, USA.
Noah JordanWest Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lewisburg, WV, USA.
Karl KadoDepartment of Radiology, Ascension Providence Hospital, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Southfield, MI, USA.
Doris TongDivision of Neurosurgery, Ascension Providence Hospital, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Southfield, MI, USA.
Teck M SooDivision of Neurosurgery, Ascension Providence Hospital, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Southfield, MI, USA.
Daniel A CarrDivision of Neurosurgery, Ascension Providence Hospital, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Southfield, MI, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

STUDY

designLongitudinal cohort study. PURPOSE: To determine the effect of change in interspace height on fusion and postoperative neck pain. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: The optimal height of a cervical interbody device (cage) in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is not well defined. In addition, the effect of interspace distraction on fusion and postoperative neck pain remains unclear.

methodsWe retrospectively reviewed the charts of consecutive patients who underwent one- or two-level ACDF using polyetheretherketone cages by multiple surgeons from January 2015 to June 2016. We excluded patients younger than 18 years old, patients who had prior surgery at the same level (s), those with two-stage procedures, and those with less than 3 months of followup. Fusion was determined using the "Song" criteria. Ordinal regression was used to determine predictors of fusion. Patient-reported outcomes (PRO) were analyzed.

resultsWe identified 323 consecutive patients. Twenty-two patients met the exclusion criteria. A total of 435 operative levels were included in the 301 remaining patients. Interspace fusion did not significantly vary by increasing interspace height with fusion rates between 76.2% and 82.8% at a mean follow-up of 17.9±12.6 months. The effect of an increase in interspace height and neck pain PRO was available for 163 patients who underwent one-level ACDF at a mean follow-up period of 16.2±13.1 months. We found no significant difference in fusion rate or neck pain score with increasing interspace height from 1 to 8 mm. Ordinal regression demonstrated no significant predictors of fusion.

conclusionsInterspace distraction from 1 to 8 mm did not result in significantly different pseudarthrosis rates or postoperative neck pain.

Indexed as

Cage heightCervical spineNeck painSpinal fusion

Identifiers

PMID35051329
PMCPMC9260403

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
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.