Anterior cervical discectomy with and without interbody bone graft

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Spinal Surgery

Background:

• Cervical disc disease significantly impacts patient quality of life.
• Conservative treatments often fail for symptomatic cervical disc disease.
• Surgical intervention is considered for refractory cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of the Cloward procedure versus radical discectomy and foraminotomy for symptomatic cervical disc disease.
• To evaluate patient outcomes and satisfaction following surgical treatment.
• To determine preferred surgical techniques based on disease severity.

Main Methods:

• Randomized controlled trial involving 51 patients with symptomatic cervical disc disease.
• Patients were assigned to either the Cloward procedure (n=25) or radical discectomy and foraminotomy (n=26).
• Follow-up included interviews, physical examinations, and radiographic evaluation for at least 6 months.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in success rates was observed between the Cloward procedure and discectomy groups.
• A high overall patient satisfaction rate of 92% was reported in both treatment groups.
• Technical considerations influenced the choice of procedure based on spondylosis severity.

Conclusions:

• Both the Cloward procedure and radical discectomy are effective surgical options for cervical disc disease.
• The Cloward procedure is preferred for advanced spondylosis, while discectomy is suitable for minimal spondylosis or soft disc herniations.
• Patient satisfaction is high regardless of the surgical technique employed for cervical disc disease.