European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Cervical spondylosis is the term used to refer to the degenerative changes of the cervical spine that occur as an adaptation to continuous wear and tear, resulting in the formation of vertebral osteophytes secondary to disc degeneration. The aim of this study is to analyze the pattern of recovery of neurological signs and symptoms in patients with one- or two-level cervical disc disease who were operated on by an anterior approach without fusion. This is a retrospective observational study conducted at the Institute of Neurosurgery, Madras Medical College, Chennai, over a period of 5 years, involving 68 patients. Acute and chronicity of symptoms were almost equal, with the most common presentation being radicular pain. The most common complications encountered were CSF leak and wound infection. Patients who presented with radiculopathy alone had good improvement. Patients with acute presentation and single-level disc prolapse had immediate post-op improvement compared to those with chronic history and two-level disc prolapse, but at the time of final follow-up, there was an equal improvement of power and sensation in both groups. Single or two-level anterior cervical discectomy without fusion has good neurological recovery and patient outcome with significant relief from radicular pain, and improvement in power and sensation. None of the patients had postoperative spinal instability. Simple anterior cervical discectomy without fusion contributes a great deal in terms of reduced operative time, reduced radiation exposure, reduced cost, and reduced morbidity associated with the surgical procedure in cases of one- or two-level cervical disc prolapse.