Clinical Presentation and Outcomes after Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Degenerative Cervical Disc Disease: A Retrospective Study in a Tertiary Care Centre

Abstract

Background: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a well-established surgical procedure for the treatment of degenerative cervical disc disease, particularly in patients with radiculopathy and myelopathy who do not respond to conservative management.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 110 patients who underwent single- or two-level ACDF between January 2020 and December 2024 at a tertiary care center. Demographic data, clinical presentation, surgical details, and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. Associations between implant type, surgical level, and complication rates were evaluated using the Chi-square test.

Results: The mean age of patients was 50.17 ± 14.47 years, with a nearly equal sex distribution. The overall complication rate was 24.5%, with most complications being minor and transient. Complete symptom resolution was observed in 20.9% of patients, while 79.1% experienced significant improvement. No statistically significant association was found between implant type and complication rate (p = 0.245) or surgical level and complication rate (p = 0.509).

Conclusion: ACDF is a safe and effective procedure for degenerative cervical spine disorders, providing significant clinical improvement in most patients. Further prospective studies with longer follow-up are recommended to evaluate long-term outcomes.