Anterior cervical discectomy with and without fusion

Abstract

✓ A prospective randomized study to compare discectomy without (DE) and with fusion (DEF) included 63 patients operated on for cervical herniated disc. The clinical outcome 3 and 12 months postoperatively was significantly better after DE than after DEF (p < 0.05). Significantly more patients operated on with DE returned to work during the first 9 weeks postoperatively than patients operated on with DEF (p < 0.005 to 0.05). The prognosis is significantly better for men than for women after DEF (p < 0.005), while no difference can be shown after DE.