Anterior Cervical Plate

Additional Details

A small plate can be applied to the front of the spine. This relatively simple procedure can add considerable stability to the spinal construct. Anterior plates were developed in the 1980s, and their use was initially restricted to long fusions (multi-level fusions). Now more surgeons are also using them for single level procedures. The addition of an anterior cervical plate during surgery to protect the bone graft and add extra stability to the spine does not add that much to a cervical fusion procedure. The plates are expensive but help provide for earlier return to normal functioning after surgery. It has become much more commonplace for surgeons to use a plate as a routine addition to a cervical fusion.