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Mechanical failure of the Mobi-C implant for artificial cervical disc replacement: report of 4 cases

Abstract

Cervical spondylosis is one of the most commonly treated conditions in neurosurgery. Increasingly, cervical disc replacement (CDR) has become an alternative to traditional arthrodesis, particularly when treating younger patients. Thus, surgeons continue to gain a greater understanding of short- and long-term complications of arthroplasty. Here, the authors present a series of 4 patients initially treated with Mobi-C artificial disc implants who developed postoperative neck pain. Dynamic imaging revealed segmental kyphosis at the level of the implant. All implants were locked in the flexion position, and all patients required reoperation. This is the first reported case series of symptomatic segmental kyphosis after CDR.

 

Conclusions

CDR remains an alternative to cervical arthrodesis for select, especially younger, high-functioning patients. Hardware failure with fixed SSK can occur either immediately following surgery or in a more delayed fashion. We recommend increased vigilance with the surgical technique and patient selection as well as dynamic cervical radiographs for all patients who present with neck pain after CDR. If SSK is diagnosed, either replacement of the artificial disc or conversion to cervical fusion can resolve patient symptoms.

 

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