Cervical Disk Arthroplasty Failure in a Patient with Klippel-Feil Syndrome: A Case Report

JBJS Case Connect. 2025 Aug 22;15(3). doi: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.25.00308. eCollection 2025 Jul 1.

Abstract

Case: A 26-year-old female with Klippel-Feil syndrome (KFS) type III underwent cervical disk arthroplasty (CDA) at C5-6 for radiculopathy unresponsive to conservative care. Initial improvement was followed by recurrence of symptoms despite no implant failure or adjacent segment disease. At 11 months, she underwent revision to anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion (ACDF), resulting in full symptom resolution.

Conclusion: This case illustrates early CDA failure in a patient with congenital cervical fusion, successfully revised to ACDF. It highlights the uncertain outcomes of motion-preserving surgery in KFS and underscores the need for caution and further research in this population.

Keywords: ACDF; CDA; KFS; Klippel-Feil syndrome; MRI; Medtronic prestige; c6; cervical disk arthroplasty; cervical spine; congenital abnormality; female; pain; restricted ROM; spine; young adult.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cervical Vertebrae* / diagnostic imaging
  • Cervical Vertebrae* / surgery
  • Diskectomy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Klippel-Feil Syndrome* / complications
  • Klippel-Feil Syndrome* / surgery
  • Radiculopathy* / etiology
  • Radiculopathy* / surgery
  • Reoperation
  • Spinal Fusion