A Comparison of Cervical Disc Arthroplasty and Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion in Two-Level Cervical Disc Degenerative Disease

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) has been used to treat degenerative cervical spine diseases for almost six decades. Cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) has emerged as a promising potential alternative to ACDF in appropriately selected patients. Despite a history of excellent outcomes after ACDF, the question as to whether fusion leads to adjacent segment degeneration remains unanswered. Early clinical outcomes show that CDA is as effective as the standard ACDF. However, it is also associated with a number of complications. Although there is no definitive evidence that cervical disc replacement reduces the incidence of adjacent segment degeneration, it does show other advantages; for example, faster return to work, and reduced need for postoperative bracing.

Keywords: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion; Cervical disc arthroplasty; Adjacent segment degeneration