Single-level cervical degenerative disc disease saw better outcomes when addressed with disc replacement instead of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, according to a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials published Aug. 12 in the Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research.
Four notes:
1. Researchers included 17 randomized controlled trials across four databases up until February. 6, 2025.
2. The meta-analysis found that the disc replacement group has greater blood loss than ACDF. However disc replacement had a higher neurological success rate, an increased range of motion and lower scores on neck disability index as well as visual analog scales compared to ACDF.
3. Reoperation rates and adjacent segment degeneration rates were also “significantly reduced” for disc replacement patients, the analysis found.
4. The study concluded, “In the long term, cervical disc arthroplasty presents favorable safety profile for treating single-segment CDDD with lower reoperation rates while demonstrating superior efficacy over ACDF along with effective reduction in adjacent segment degeneration rates.”
