Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Spinal Disorders

Background:

• Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a common procedure for cervical spine pathologies.
• Posterolateral spondylosis and disc herniation are frequent indications for ACDF.
• The impact of adjacent asymptomatic spondylosis on ACDF outcomes requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical outcomes of ACDF in patients with posterolateral spondylosis, disc herniation, or both.
• To determine if the presence of adjacent asymptomatic spondylosis affects surgical results.
• To analyze the efficacy of addressing only symptomatic levels in ACDF.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 94 patients who underwent ACDF.
• Analysis of patient diagnoses including posterolateral spondylosis and disc herniation.
• Assessment of postoperative outcomes, including complication rates and functional results.

Main Results:

• An 88% good or excellent outcome was observed in patients without additional spondylosis.
• Outcomes decreased to 60% good or excellent when adjacent asymptomatic spondylosis levels were left unoperated.
• A 4% pseudarthrosis rate and two cases of postoperative dysphagia were reported.

Conclusions:

• ACDF can yield favorable results for symptomatic cervical spine conditions.
• Leaving adjacent asymptomatic spondylosis levels unaddressed may compromise surgical outcomes.
• Further research is warranted to optimize surgical strategies for multilevel cervical spondylosis.