BACKGROUND: This study analyzed the effect of preoperative T1 slope on cervical alignment and range of motion (ROM) after cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) in patients with cervical degenerative disease.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 32 patients with single-level symptomatic cervical disc disease who underwent CDA with the Mobi-C cervical disc prosthesis and had a mean follow-up of 26.8±6.4 months. Standing lateral, flexion, and extension X-rays of the cervical spine were obtained preoperatively and postoperatively at 24-month follow-up. Simple linear regression analysis was used to assess the impact of preoperative T1 slope on changes from preoperative values in radiologic parameters.

RESULTS: Compared to preoperative values, at 24-month follow-up, there was a significant increase in mean functional spinal unit (FSU) angle (+7.4°), upper adjacent segment (UAS) angle (+3.1°), and overall cervical alignment (C2–C7 angle) (+6.3°), and a significant decrease in mean lower adjacent segment (LAS) angle (–2.4°). Mean ROM of the FSU (–3.6°), LAS (–3.0°), and overall cervical spine (–11.5°) significantly decreased, and mean ROM of the UAS (+1.6°) significantly increased. There were significant correlations between preoperative T1 slope and mean change from preoperative value in FSU angle, C2–C7 angle, and ROM of the overall cervical spine (C2–C7).

CONCLUSIONS: T1 slope is useful for evaluating changes in the FSU angle, C2–C7 angle, and ROM of the overall cervical spine following CDA with the Mobi-C disc. Patients with a large preoperative T1 slope may be good candidates for CDA with the Mobi-C prosthesis due its motion maintenance and the fact that it has little adverse impact on sagittal alignment. It also could be a good option in terms of sagittal alignment improvement or motion maintenance for patients with kyphosis.

Keywords: radiculopathy, Range of Motion, Articular, Total Disc Replacement