Comparison of Artificial Disc Implants in Cervical Disc Arthroplasty

Comparison of Unconstrained and Semi-constrained Artificial Disc Implants Used in Cervical Disc Arthroplasty

This study will comprehensively evaluate the outcomes and endpoints of these two different FDA-approved artificial disc implants used to treat cervical spondylotic myelopathy and/or radiculopathy today: Biomet Zimmer Mobi-C and Nuvasive Simplify. Both implants are structurally different with the Nuvasive Simplify implementing a three-piece design with two endplates and a semi-constrained mobile core while the Biomet Zimmer Mobi-C implements an unconstrained three piece design. Subjects will be age-matched and randomly assigned to either implant with informed consent. All subjects will undergo a variety of assessments that evaluate neck disability, quality of life, pain, physiological outcome (radiographic assessments), and neck range-of motion before and after their procedure. One baseline testing will be conducted along with three post-operation visits (three months, six months, and one year) in accordance to standard follow-up procedure. Thus, the duration of participation in the study will be approximately one and a half years.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Degenerative Disc Disease; Cervical Radiculopathy; Cervical Disc Herniation; Cervical Spondylosis With Myelopathy
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Cervical arthroplasty; Device: Semi-Constrained Nuvasive Simplify; Device: Unconstrained Biomet Zimmer Mobi-C

Detailed Description

In cases where surgery is indicated, treatment for cervical spondylotic myelopathy and/or radiculopathy (typically caused by disc herniation or degenerative disc disease) has traditionally been performed by a procedure known as anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) to treat a damaged disc in the neck area of the spine. However, medical advancement in this field has allowed for a new procedure often referred to as cervical arthroplasty that implements artificial disc implantation. These implants mimic the function and structure of discs by cushioning the neck's vertebral bones instead of fusing them and providing flexibility for head movements. The emergence of different artificial disc implants that are structurally and mechanistically different calls for a comparative analysis that evaluates performance across a comprehensive set of patient outcomes.

This study will comprehensively evaluate the outcomes and endpoints of these two different FDA-approved artificial disc implants used to treat cervical spondylotic myelopathy and/or radiculopathy today: Biomet Zimmer Mobi-C and Nuvasive Simplify. Both implants are structurally different with the Nuvasive Simplify implementing a three-piece design with two endplates and a semi-constrained mobile core while the Biomet Zimmer Mobi-C implements an unconstrained three piece design. Subjects will be age-matched and randomly assigned to either implant with informed consent. All subjects will undergo a variety of assessments that evaluate neck disability, quality of life, pain, physiological outcome (radiographic assessments), and neck range-of motion before and after their procedure. One baseline testing will be conducted along with three post-operation visits (three months, six months, and one year) in accordance to standard follow-up procedure. Thus, the duration of participation in the study will be approximately one and a half years.

This study has significant implications in better assessing the overall efficacy of cervical arthroplasty while providing insight to the differences in outcomes based on the artificial disc implanted. Findings can also contribute to characterizing the advantages and disadvantages of both implants to aid surgeons in making more informed and personalized treatment recommendations according to the needs of the patient.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 20

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Mark T Yamamoto, BS; Phone Number: 4245359634; Email: mtyamamoto@mednet.ucla.edu
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Daniel C Lu, MD, PhD; Phone Number: (310) 319-3475; Email: dclu@mednet.ucla.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90095
      • Recruiting
      • UCLA
      • Contact: Daniel C Lu, MD PhD; Phone Number: 310-825-4321; Email: dclu@mednet.ucla.edu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 60 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Subjects must be experiencing cervical spondylotic myelopathy and/or radiculopathy typically caused by disc herniation or degenerative disc disease at a single level between C3 to C7 after being unresponsive to at least six weeks of non-surgical conservative care. This study is for patients who have the intention of undergoing cervical arthroplasty and have already been recommended to do so by a doctor.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient is skeletally mature and between 18 to 60 years of age
• Experiences cervical spondylotic myelopathy and/or radiculopathy typically caused by disc herniation or degenerative disc disease at a single level between C3 to C7
• Is unresponsive to at least six weeks of non-surgical conservative care
• Has the intention of undergoing cervical arthroplasty for their chief complaint
• Signed informed consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient has had prior cervical spine surgery
• Has more than two diseased levels requiring surgery
• Has a known allergy to a metal alloy or polyethylene
• Is morbidly obese
• Has active local or system infection
• Has any circumstances or conditions such that their ability to provide informed consent comply with follow-up requirements, or provide self-assessments is compromised (eg: psychiatric disorders, chronic alcohol or substance abuse, etc.)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Semi-Constrained Nuvasive Simplify; This group will be undergoing cervical arthroplasty with the Nuvasive Simplify artificial disc implant. The Nuvasive Simplify implements a three-piece design with two endplates and a semi-constrained mobile core.	Procedure: Cervical arthroplasty; A joint replacement procedure administered by inserting an artificial disc between the vertebrae to replace a natural spinal disc after it has been removed.; Other Names: Cervical artificial disc replacement surgery; Device: Semi-Constrained Nuvasive Simplify; This weight-bearing implant consisting of PEEK (polyetheretherketone) endplates and one semi-constrained, fully articulating, mobile zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) ceramic core will be administered by cervical arthroplasty into the specified single-level cervical region.
Unconstrained Biomet Zimmer Mobi-C; This group will be undergoing cervical arthroplasty with the Biomet Zimmer Mobi-C artificial disc implant. The Biomet Zimmer Mobi-C implements an unconstrained three piece design.	Procedure: Cervical arthroplasty; A joint replacement procedure administered by inserting an artificial disc between the vertebrae to replace a natural spinal disc after it has been removed.; Other Names: Cervical artificial disc replacement surgery; Device: Unconstrained Biomet Zimmer Mobi-C; This unconstrained, three-piece implant will be administered by cervical arthroplasty into the specified single-level cervical region.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cervical range of motion assessments with VICON	Will measure flexion/extension, lateral bending, rotation, protraction/retraction in degrees. The outcome will reflect any improvement in physiological neck range of motion be patients undergoing this procedure.	Will be conducted before surgery (baseline), and 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year post-operation.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Questionnaires on neck disability	Will administer surveys on neck disability index, work status, pain intensity worksheet, treatment satisfaction form, and the SF-12 v2 Health Survey. The 12-item Short Form Survey version 2 (SF-12 v2) is a general health questionnaire that reports two summary scores - a mental component score (MCS-12) and a physical component score (PCS-12). The scores are reported as Z-scores (difference compared to the population average, measured in standard deviations) with the US population average PCS-12 and MCS-12 being both 50 points. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better physical and mental health functioning. Overall, these assessments will help to gauge overall quality of life, pain, and patient satisfaction with their treatment.	Will be conducted before surgery (baseline), and 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year post-operation.
Neurological examination: gait assessment	Will take place as part of standard care for this operation. A gait assessment will be performed according to Nurick's Classification. Nurick's classification is graded from 0-5 or normal, with a number grade denoting some neurological deficit. 0 is least severe, with the patient showing root signs and symptoms with no evidence of spinal cord involvement. Grade 5 is most severe, described as chair bound or bedridden.	Will be conducted before surgery (baseline), and 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year post-operation.
Neurological examination: foraminal compression test	The foraminal compression test is a physical examination technique which reduces the opening of the foramen which may demonstrate if there is pressure upon the exiting spinal nerve. The test is done to detect spinal nerve root involvement, a herniated disc, bulging disc, or foraminal stenosis. The scoring is binary, either negative or positive, to test for any pain the patient experiences during the exam.	Will be conducted before surgery (baseline), and 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year post-operation.
Radiographic assessments: disc height	Will take place as part of standard care for this operation. Anterior and Posterior Disc Height will be measured from neutral lateral radiographs. Anterior (Posterior) Disc Height is defined as the distance between the anterior-inferior (posterior-inferior) corner of the superior vertebra, and the corresponding corner of the inferior vertebra. This distance is measured perpendicular to the superior endplate of the inferior vertebra and will be reported in units of millimeters. Average Disc Height is calculated as the simple average of the Anterior and Posterior Disc Heights.	Will be conducted before surgery (baseline), and 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year post-operation.
Radiographic assessments: disc angle	Disc Angle is the angle formed between the endplates of adjacent vertebrae. Disc Angle will be measured on neutral lateral radiographs to assess local segmental lordosis and will be reported in degrees.	Will be conducted before surgery (baseline), and 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year post-operation.
Radiographic assessments: global range of motion (C2-C6)	Global range of motion will be measured on lateral flexion-extension views to evaluate global range of motion. Global C2-C6 range of motion will be calculated by subtracting the C2-C6 angle in flexion from the C2-C6 angle in extension. Global range of motion will be measured between the inferior endplate of C2 and the inferior endplate of C6. C2-C6 Angle will be measured in units of degrees.	Will be conducted before surgery (baseline), and 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year post-operation.
Radiographic assessments: translational motion	Translational Motion will be calculated from flexion-extension radiographs. Translational Motion is defined as displacement of the posterior-inferior corner of the superior vertebra in a direction defined parallel to the superior endplate of the inferior vertebra. Translational Motion will be reported in units of millimeters and as a percent of the AP dimension of the superior endplate of the inferior vertebra.	Will be conducted before surgery (baseline), and 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year post-operation.
Radiographic assessments: device subsidence	Device Subsidence will assess significant cranial-caudal movement of the implant and will be graded in accordance with the following definitions: 0. None: No evidence of cranial or caudal subsidence of the implant > 3 mm.; Cranial: Presence of cranial movement of the device > 3 mm relative to the initial position of the implant at PostOp.; Caudal: Presence of caudal movement of the device > 3 mm relative to the initial position of the implant at PostOp. Subsidence will be evaluated relative to the first available post-operative visit. A threshold of >3 mm of implant motion will be used to define significance. Subsidence will be assessed in the cranial and caudal directions perpendicular to the vertebral endplates and based on the degree of penetration of the implant into the bony margins of the vertebral body.	Will be conducted before surgery (baseline), and 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year post-operation.
Radiographic assessments: Kellgren-Lawrence Assessment	Kellgren-Lawrence ALDD at the adjacent levels will be graded in accordance with the following definitions adapted from Kellgren and Lawrence: 0. None: No degenerative changes.; Doubtful: Minimal osteophytosis only.; Minimal: Definite osteophytosis with some sclerosis of anterior part of vertebral plates.; Moderate: Marked osteophytosis and sclerosis of vertebral plates with slight narrowing of disk space.; Severe: Large osteophytes, marked sclerosis of vertebral plates, and marked narrowing of disk space. The assessment of Kellgren-Lawrence Osteoarthritis Grade will be graded by the reviewers based on an assessment from X-ray of three component factors: disc space narrowing (assessed relative to an nearby normal disc), osteophyte formation and endplate sclerosis.	Will be conducted before surgery (baseline), and 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year post-operation.
Radiographic assessments: intervertebral angle (index and adjacent levels)	Intervertebral Angle is used to define the endplate angle of the superior vertebra relative to the inferior vertebra. The difference in the angles measured is equivalent to a change in the Disc Angle. Intervertebral Angles will be measured in the sagittal plane from flexion and extension images separately and in the coronal plane from left and right bending images separately. All values will be reported in degrees. Intervertebral Angle will be calculated from lateral flexion-extension radiographs. Intervertebral Angle, also known as rotation, is defined as the change in angle between the adjacent endplates of the motion segment. Intervertebral Angle will be reported in units of degrees.	Will be conducted before surgery (baseline), and 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year post-operation.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of California, Los Angeles
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Daniel C Lu, MD, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles; Study Director: Mark T Yamamoto, BS, University of California, Los Angeles

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 13, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 24, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): January 27, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 9, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 6, 2024
• Last Verified: January 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: ACDF; radiculopathy; disc herniation; cervical; cervical arthroplasty; degenerative disc disease; disc; myelopathy; artificial disc; spondylosis; cervical disc; artificial disc implantation; Biomet Zimmer Mobi-C; Nuvasive Simplify
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Hematologic Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Spinal Diseases; Bone Diseases; Hernia; Intervertebral Disc Displacement; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration; Radiculopathy; Spinal Cord Diseases; Bone Marrow Diseases; Spondylosis; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Enzyme Inhibitors; Analgesics; Sensory System Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antirheumatic Agents; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Gastrointestinal Agents; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; Anti-Ulcer Agents; Histamine Antagonists; Histamine Agents; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 Inhibitors; Histamine H2 Antagonists; Meloxicam; Cimetidine
• Other Study ID Numbers: 22-001808

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: Yes
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: Yes