ArticleEuropean spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society2026
Crossing the cervicothoracic junction in multilevel posterior fixations for degenerative cervical disease: a Swedish registry-based study.
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, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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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.
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.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Impact of obesity on patient-reported outcome measures and complications following anterior cervical surgery for cervical spondylosis: A cohort study Of 7,993 patients.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 · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeThe decision to cross the cervicothoracic junction (CTJ) during multilevel posterior cervical fusion remains controversial. While constructs extending into the thoracic spine may enhance stability, they may also increase surgical complexity. The clinical relevance of these differences, particularly regarding patient-reported outcomes (PROMs), is still unclear. We hence aimed to determine whether extending fusion across the CTJ impacts PROMs and perioperative complication rates in a nationwide cohort.
methodsThis retrospective cohort study used prospectively collected data from the Swedish Spine Registry (Swespine). Adult patients who underwent multilevel posterior cervical fusion were divided into two groups: those ending at C7 and those extending beyond the CTJ. Baseline characteristics, surgical details, complication rates, and PROMs at 1- and 5-years were compared.
resultsBaseline characteristics were similar between groups (p ≥ 0.5). Perioperative complication and reoperation rates did not differ significantly between groups (p ≥ 0.5). Similarly, at both one- and five-years of follow-up, PROMs, including pain scores, disability indices, and satisfaction, were comparable (p ≥ 0.5). However, a significant difference was observed in terms of fine motor recovery, with patients whose constructs crossed the CTJ demonstrating a greater degree of improvement (p = 0.009).
conclusionsCrossing the CTJ in multilevel posterior cervical fusion does not significantly affect complication rates, reoperations, or most PROMs at one and five years. Surgical decisions should prioritize anatomical and clinical factors, rather than expected differences in PROMs.
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