Eligibility |
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Age 22 to 75 years (inclusive) at the time of enrollment.
2. Diagnosis of radiculopathy and/or myelopathy of the cervical spine, with pain,
paresthesias or paralysis in a specific nerve root distribution C3 through C7,
including at least one of the following:
- Neck and/or arm pain (at least 3 on the 0 - 10 numeric rating scale for pain.
- Decreased muscle strength of at least one level on the clinical evaluation 0 to 5
scale.
- Abnormal sensation including hyperesthesia or hypoesthesia. and/or
- Abnormal reflexes.
3. Symptomatic at two contiguous levels from C3 to C7.
4. Radiographically determined pathology at the level to be treated correlating to
primary symptoms including at least one of the following:
- Decreased disc height on radiography, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) in comparison to a normal adjacent disc.
- Degenerative spondylosis on CT or MRI.
- Disc herniation on CT or MRI.
5. Neck Disability Index Score = 30/100.
6. Unresponsive to non-operative treatment (e.g., rest, heat, physical therapy,
chiropractor, massage, pain medication) for approximately six weeks from the symptom
onset; or has the presence of progressive symptoms or signs of nerve root/spinal cord
compression in the face of continued non-operative management.
7. No previous surgical intervention at the involved levels or any subsequent,
planned/staged surgical procedure at the involved or adjacent levels.
8. Appropriate for treatment using an anterior surgical approach.
9. Skeletally mature at the time of the surgery.
10. Medically cleared for surgery.
11. If a female of child-bearing potential, subject is non-pregnant, nonnursing, and
agrees not to become pregnant during the study period.
12. Willing and able to comply with the study plan.
13. Signed written Patient Informed Consent Form.
14. Willing to discontinue use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) from one
week before the surgery to 3 months after the surgery.
Exclusion Criteria:
1. A cervical spinal condition other than symptomatic cervical degenerative disc disease
requiring surgical treatment at the involved levels.
2. Documented or diagnosed cervical instability relative to adjacent segments at either
level, defined by dynamic (flexion/extension) radiographs showing sagittal plane
translation >3.5 mm or sagittal plane angulation > 20°.
3. More than two cervical levels requiring surgical treatment.
4. An immobile or spontaneously fused level adjacent to the levels to be treated.
5. Severe pathology of the facet joints of the involved vertebral bodies.
6. Previous surgical intervention at either one or both of the involved levels or at
adjacent levels.
7. History of trauma to the C3 to C7 levels resulting in significant bony or
disco-ligamentous cervical spine injury.
8. Previously diagnosed with osteomalacia;
9. Any of the following that may be associated with an increased risk osteoporosis (if
"Yes" to any of the below risk factors, a DEXA Scan is required to determine
eligibility). If the level of bone mineral density (BMD) on DEXA scan is a T score of
-2.5 or worse (i.e., -2.6, - 2.7, etc.) the subject is ineligible for the study.
- Postmenopausal non-Black female over 60 years of age who weighs less than 140
pounds.
- Postmenopausal female who has sustained a non-traumatic hip, spine, or wrist
fracture.
- Male over the age of 60 who has sustained a non-traumatic hip or spine fracture.
- Taking bisphosphonate medication for the treatment of osteoporosis.
- Chronic use of high dose steroids.
10. Reported active malignancy that included a history of any invasive malignancy (except
non-melanoma skin cancer) unless the subject had been treated with curative intent and
there had been no clinical signs or symptoms of the malignancy for at least five
years.
11. Overt or active systemic infection, or infection at the operative site.
12. Insulin dependent diabetes.
13. A tobacco user who does not agree to suspend smoking prior to surgery.
14. Chronic or acute renal failure or prior history of renal disease.
15. Mentally incompetent (If questionable, obtain psychiatric consult).
16. A prisoner.
17. An alcohol and/or drug abuser currently or recently undergoing treatment for alcohol
and/or drug abuse.
18. Involved with current or pending litigation regarding a spinal condition.
19. Received drugs that may interfere with bone metabolism within two weeks prior to the
planned date of spinal surgery (e.g., steroids or methotrexate) excluding routine
perioperative anti-inflammatory drugs.
20. A history of an endocrine or metabolic disorder known to affect osteogenesis (e.g.,
Paget's Disease, renal osteodystrophy, Ehlers- Danlos Syndrome, or osteogenesis
imperfecta).
21. A condition that requires post-operative medications that interfere with the stability
of the implant, such as steroids. (This does not include low dose aspirin for
prophylactic anticoagulation and routine perioperative anti-inflammatory drugs).
22. Received treatment with an investigational therapy within 28 days prior to
implantation surgery or such treatment is planned during the 16 weeks following
implantation with the ZetaFuse™ Bone Graft device.
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