Retrospective Review of Multilevel Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion without Posterior Instrumentation

Research Objectives: To report on clinical outcomes, reoperation rates and rates of return to operating room.

Design: Retrospective chart review

Setting: Single center, ambulatory care center

Participants: 109 subjects who underwent four or more level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion without posterior instrumentation.

Interventions: Subjects ages 18-88 who underwent multilevel (four or more level) anterior cervical discectomy and fusion without posterior instrumentation at time of index surgery between May 2016 and December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. 104 patients who underwent 4-level fusion and 5 patients who underwent 5-level fusion were included in this study. Revision rates were analyzed. Preoperative and postoperative lordosis measured. Preoperative and postoperative pain scores compared.

Main Outcome Measures: Return to the operating room, preoperative vs. postoperative cervical lordosis, patient reported outcomes

Results: Of the 104 patients included in this review 3 patients (2.75%) returned to surgery within 6 months. One patient returned for cervical posterior spinal interbody fusion, one patient returned for anterior plate hardware removal, and one patient returned for wound irrigation & debridement.

Conclusions: Our study shows multi-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion without Posterior Instrumentation to have great clinical outcomes in restoring lordosis and have low reoperation rates.

Author(s) Disclosures: William Bader, DMSc, PA-C
Joshua Herzog, M.D.
Claudia Bale, BA
Erin Brown, LPN