DOI: 10.69601/meandrosmdj.1933611 ISSN: 2149-9063

Clinical and Radiological Outcomes of Anterior Cervical Discectomy for Cervical Disc Herniation

Murat Özcan Yay, Melih Çetiner
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Objective: Anterior cervical discectomy using either a cage or a cervical disc prosthesis is an established treatment for cervical disc herniation that provides neural decompression and symptom relief. However, its effects on disc height and cervical sagittal alignment remain unclear. This study evaluated clinical and radiological outcomes, focusing on pain relief, disc height restoration, cervical alignment, and subgroup differences by operated level number and implant type.Materials and Methods: This retrospective single-center study included 118 patients who underwent anterior cervical discectomy for cervical disc herniation between 2021 and 2023. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) preoperatively, at postoperative month 1, and at final follow-up. Radiological evaluation included disc height, segmental Cobb angle, and global C2–C7 Cobb angle measured on preoperative and postoperative imaging. Subgroup analyses were performed according to single-level versus multilevel surgery and prosthesis versus cage implantation.Results: VAS scores decreased significantly from 8.32 ± 0.83 preoperatively to 2.90 ± 0.72 at postoperative month 1 and 1.80 ± 0.56 at final follow-up (p < 0.001). Disc height increased significantly after surgery (median increase, 1.5 mm; p < 0.001), whereas segmental and global Cobb angles did not change significantly. Disc height restoration was greater in single-level procedures and the prosthesis group, whereas pain improvement was similar between subgroups. No significant correlation was found between radiological changes and pain reduction.Conclusion: Anterior cervical discectomy provides pain relief and restores disc height, but alignment changes appear limited and do not correlate with clinical recovery.

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