Cervical sagittal alignment after different anterior discectomy procedures for single-level cervical degenerative disc disease: randomized controlled trial

• Published in: Acta neurochirurgica Vol. 159; no. 12; pp. 2359 - 2365
• Main Authors: Donk, Roland D., Arnts, Hisse, Verhagen, Wim I. M., Groenewoud, Hans, Verbeek, Andre, Bartels, Ronald H. M. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vienna Springer Vienna 01.12.2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Interventional Radiology; Intervertebral discs; Joint surgery; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Minimally Invasive Surgery; Neurology; Neuroradiology; Neurosurgery; Original - Spine; Original Article - Spine; Radiography; Spine; Spine (cervical); Surgical Orthopedics; Anterior cervical discectomy; Arthroplasty; Cage; Fusion; Spinal alignment; Cervical
• ISSN: 0001-6268; 0942-0940; 0942-0940
• DOI: 10.1007/s00701-017-3312-z

Background The effect of anterior cervical discectomy without fusion (ACD), ACD with fusion by stand-alone cage (ACDF) or with arthroplasty (ACDA) on cervical sagittal alignment is not known and is the subject of this study. Methods A total of 142 adult patients with single-level cervical disease were at random allocated to different procedures: ACD (45), ACDF (47) and ACDA (50). Upright cervical spine radiographs were obtained. Angles of the involved angle and the angle between C2 and C7 were determined. Results After a mean follow-up of 25.4 ± 18.4 months, the angles of the involved level comparing ACD with ACDA and ACD with ACDF were different, reaching statistical significance. However, the angle between C2 and C7 did not differ between groups or between preoperative values and at follow-up. Conclusions Irrespective of the technique used for anterior cervical discectomy for single-level degenerative disc disease, the alignment of the cervical spine is unaltered.