Abstract

Purpose
To analyze the serial change of the cervical saggital alignment especially cobb angle from immediately post operation to 3 month of post operation, and evaluate the effect of anatomically designed pillow to restore cervical lordosis.
Materials and Methods
cervical cobb angle (C2-C7) was measured in 38 patients whose radiographs at immediately post op, post op 1mo and post op 3mo were completely equipped. The patient group consisted of 10 patients in the general pillow group, 19 patients in the cervical pillow group, and 9 patients in the Philadelphia orthosis group.
Results
There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups using any pillow and the group using Philadelphia orthosis. Among them, patients who used anatomically designed pillow for 1 month to 3 months postoperatively were more likely to have lordotic change than the other patients, though it was not statistically significant.
Conclusion
The use of a cervical orthosis until the first month after the operation and subsequently anatomically degsined pillow for up to 3 months may be considered as a way to maintain lordotic curvature and prevent kyphotic changes.

• Keywords: Anatomically designed pillow, Cervical alignment, ACDF