Clinical results of anterior cervical discectomy without interbody fusion

A retrospective review of 42 patients who had undergone anterior cervical discectomy without bone fusion using an operating microscope was performed to analyze the results in patients who had a diagnosis of soft disc herniation or spondylosis between 1988 and 1994. There were 29 males and 13 females (age range, 30 to 77 years). Discectomy of single level was performed in 28 cases and at two levels in 14 cases. A soft disc lesion was found in 15 patients and a hard disc in 27 patients. A good result was achieved in 93% of patients with soft disc and 59% of those with hard disc lesion. Twenty-six patients underwent radiological evaluation after the surgical intervention. Collapse of disc space was observed in 43% of these and vertebral fusion in 28% of these. In analysis of the influencing factors, it can be seen the pattern of the onset of symptoms significantly influences the surgical result. A comparison of our results at follow-up with published series in which the anterior cervical discectomy without bone fusion was used, shows no significant differences. Therefore, we recommend the anterior discectomy without fusion as the treatment of choice for soft disc lesion.