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Table 4 Pairwise comparisons of the improvements of NDI functioning scores at the follow-up timepoints between patients who were (Y) versus were not (N) completely fused at various follow-up timepoints. There was no statistically significant or clinically meaningful difference of the pre-op NDI functioning score when comparing the patients who were versus were not completely fused at each of the three follow-up timepoints (details not shown), meaning that the groups were comparable at baseline. By contrast, all six pairs of comparisons listed in the table were statistically highly significant (all p < 0.001, except the comparison of Δ NDI 18 M according to 6 M fusion status was merely significant at p = 0.006)

From: Empty polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages in anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion (ACDF) show slow radiographic fusion that reduces clinical improvement: results from the prospective multicenter “PIERCE-PEEK” study

 

Complete Fusion

6 M

12 M

18 M

Y

N

Y

N

Y

N

Δ NDI 6 M: median

(25th–75th quartiles)

16

(10–22)

10

(8–16)

Δ NDI 12 M: median

(25th–75th quartiles)

21

(16–32)

18

(13.5–22)

22

(16–28)

14

(12–18.5)

Δ NDI 18 M: median

(25th–75th quartile)

23

(20–32)

22

(14–30)

24

(19.5–32)

20

(14–26)

24

(20–32)

14

(12–20)