Introduction: Minimally invasive facet cage implantation is an alternate method of intervention for cervical radiculopathy or arthrodesis. There is a paucity of data in the literature regarding its indications for use these cages (DTRAX). Therefore, this case series examines the experience of a spine surgeon who incorporated DTRAX into his clinical practice at a tertiary academic hospital.
Methods: The study includes 15 consecutive patients treated with DTRAX from 2019 to 2023. All important patient characteristics and postoperative outcomes were collected.
Results: Out of the 15 patients, 3 had DTRAX implanted simultaneously to back up an ACDF, 2 patients following a failed ACDF, 7 simultaneously with a posterior fusion, and 3 along with a front-back approach. Reasons for use included minimal tissue destruction when compared to open posterior cervical fixation, increasing the strength of a construct when used in combination with open posterior cervical fixation, or as a method of indirect decompression of symptomatic foraminal stenosis.
Conclusion : This case series highlights the multiple uses of this implant. Further prospective studies into each of these uses is needed to prove benefit over more traditional methods.