A prospective functional outcome of stand-alone cage in cervical disc prolapses following discectomy

Introduction and Aim: Anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) is the go-to treatment for degenerative cervical illness that causes persistent radiculopathy. It has been suggested that a separate cage be used so that the patient's plates do not get damaged. This research aims to examine the radiological and functional results of discectomy and cage placement in patients with cervical disc prolapse. Materials and Methods: This study prospectively assessed patients who had anterior cervical decompression and fusion using a freestanding cage. Patients' pain levels on a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and their level of impairment as measured by the Neck impairment Index (NDI) were taken before surgery. Post-operative pain assessment, looked out for cage related complications during follow up period at 3rd and 6th month post operatively by radiological evaluation. Results: Median age of neutral group and kyphosis was 45 and 34 respectively. Maximum number of patients had C5 - C6 IVDP. Median Cobb’s angle was higher in kyphosis group as compared to neutral group. Before surgery, at 10 days, and at 3 and 6 months after surgery, the kyphosis group had a higher median VAS and NDI score than the neutral group. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that ACDF using a single cage successfully reduced the patient's preoperative neck pain and associated disability. The advantages of ACDF with a single cage include a shorter surgical time, better cervical lordosis and disc height, and no cage sinking. As a result, cage fusion as a stand-alone treatment option for cervical degenerative disease is likely to be regarded as a viable option.