Safety and efficacy of cervical foraminotomy versus anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for 1–2 level radiculopathy

Patients undergoing CF versus ACDF for 1-2 level unilateral cervical radiculopathy required 3.70 fewer postoperative X-rays, 40 min less operative time, and 10.95-h shorter lengths of hospital stay (<i>P</i> < 0.001). Alternatively, ACDF patients had a 31.3% greater probability of achieving a minimum clinically important difference in PROMIS pain interference scores but incurred a 6.25% reoperation rate, a 40% incidence of dysphagia, and high implant costs versus 0% for CF.