Treatment of cervical spine discopathy using double functional method of stabilization D·FUN·M

Author(s): JERZY PIENIĄŻEK, ANNA DOBKIEWICZ, LECHOSŁAW F. CIUPIK, AGNIESZKA KIERZKOWSKA

The deformative changes of the cervical spine usually require the biomechanical support. Cervical discopathy treatment initiated by Cloward became widespread, and the progress of bioengineering caused the distinct progress in cervical spine surgery. Besides the bone grafts the cement appeared and several intervertebral prostheses-devices made of new materials, as: implant steel, titanium alloy and recently carbon materials, polymers and other composites. In the year 1999 the meaningful progress of the cervical treatment was introducing into surgical practice the simultaneous inter- and on-vertebral body stabilization as integrated plate-cage. This method has existed under the name: D•Fun•M (Double•Functional•Method). The effectiveness of this method appeared in simultaneous prevention of spine subsidence (maintenance of postoperative distraction) and results of tension related to the extension. In the paper, the results of treatment of 497 patients, including 185 patients with application of the D•Fun•M, were described and compared with the traditional Cloward method.