Results of Anterior Cervical Discectomy without Interbody Fusion

ABSTRACT

Anterior cervical discectomy with or without interbody fusion has been conventionally used to treat patients with cervical disc diseases. However, discectomy without bone fusion has been abandoned due to the feat of early collapse of interbody space and recurrency. The author has analysed twenty-two cases of microsurgical cervical discectomy without bone fusion between Jan. 1993 and Mar. 1994. All patients were followed up for more than 6 months or as long as 21 months with repeat interview, physical examination, and radiological evaluation. The analysis revealed that the results were highly satisfactory in 21 cases with radiculopathies in terms of early ambulation, no discomfort in the iliac bone, and shorter hospital stay, but unsatisfactory in one cases which needed reoperation due to postoperative scar. The above method which had demonstrated promising results is recommended for the patients suffering from radiculopathy.