Nineteen consecutive patients who had a symptomatic pseudarthrosis after
a failed anterior cervical arthrodesis were treated by a posterior
nerve-root decompression and arthrodesis. The indications for the operation
were radiculopathy in the absence of myelopathy and evidence of a
pseudarthrosis on lateral flexion and extension radiographs. The average
duration of follow-up was forty-four months (range, twenty-four to
fifty-four months). A solid fusion was achieved in all patients, and the
radiculopathy was relieved in all but one. The motor weakness that had been
present in four patients preoperatively resolved completely.