Cervical arthroplasty versus anterior cervical discectomy in the treatment of symptomatic cervical spondylosis: A protocol

BACKGROUND: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) are both the effective techniques in treatment of cervical spondylosis. The purpose of this present retrospective cohort research was to assess the efficacy and safety of ACDF and CDA in treating the symptomatic cervical spondylosis over the 6-year follow-up. METHODS: From our registry database, we identified retrospectively patients who received CDA or ACDF in our academic institutions from 2012 to 2015. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board in Zigong No.4 People's Hospital (Z10058072). All the subjects who participated in this trial were informed consent in writing. The inclusion criteria were the degenerative disc diseases between C3-7 resulting in myelopathy or radiculopathy, which was unresponsive to the conservative treatment. The clinical results were determined via Short Form-36, and neck disability index, numerical scoring scales for complications, arm pain and neck pain. The radiographic assessment contained the cervical lordosis, and the motion range of the functional spinal unit and total cervical spine. The routine follow-up was performed to collect the data of radiographic and clinical assessment at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 months before and after the surgery. RESULTS: This study had limited inclusion and exclusion criteria and a well-controlled intervention. It was assumed that both techniques could obtain the similar postoperative effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study protocol was registered in Research Registry (researchregistry5878).