The use of titanium mesh cages in the cervical spine.

Titanium mesh cages have been used widely for spinal reconstruction since 1986 when they first were introduced. Despite their popularity, relatively few studies have been published on their use in the cervical spine. These cages can be used as structural devices containing autologous local bone or iliac crest bone graft, obviating the need to harvest large structural bone grafts. The main disadvantages of their use are the increased costs and the difficulty of assessing fusion status. The authors review surgical techniques that can be used using titanium mesh cages in cervical spine applications and discuss some of their advantages and disadvantages.