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Open Access 01-09-2007 | Original Article

Long-term outcome after anterior cervical discectomy without fusion

Authors: Rishi D. S. Nandoe Tewarie, Ronald H. M. A. Bartels, Wilco C. Peul

Published in: European Spine Journal | Issue 9/2007

Abstract

To retrospectively study the long-term outcome of patients after anterior cervical discectomy without fusion (ACD) compared to results published on the long-term outcome after ACD with fusion (ACDF). We reviewed the charts of all patients receiving ACD surgery between 1985 and 2000 to analyze the direct post-operative results as well as complications of the surgery. Moreover, 102 patients, randomly selected, were interviewed with the neck disability index to study possible persisting complaints up to 18 years after ACD surgery. A total of 551 Patients were identified. Two months post-operative follow up at the outpatient clinic revealed that 90.1% of patients were satisfied with the result of ACD surgery. At the time of the survey, this percentage had dropped to 67.6%. In addition, 20.6% and 11.8% had obtained moderate to severe complaints, respectively, in daily-life activities. Complaints were mainly localized in the neck region and occasionally provoked radiating pain in the arm. On the short term, ACD leads to a satisfied outcome. Over the longer term, patients report increasing complaints. The increase in complaints at the time of the survey may be the result of ongoing degenerative effects. Compared to published data on ACDF, there is no superiority of any fusion technique compared to ACD alone.

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Title: Long-term outcome after anterior cervical discectomy without fusion
Authors: Rishi D. S. Nandoe Tewarie
Ronald H. M. A. Bartels
Wilco C. Peul
Publication date: 01-09-2007
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: European Spine Journal / Issue 9/2007
Print ISSN: 0940-6719
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0932
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-007-0309-y

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Long-term outcome after anterior cervical discectomy without fusion

Abstract

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Abstract

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