LONG-TERM CLINICAL AND RADIOLOGICAL OUTCOMES OF ANTERIOR CERVICAL DISCECTOMY AND FUSION USING A ZERO-PROFILE ANCHORED CAGE

Cervical discectomy is one of the most common and rapidly growing procedures performed to quickly relieve radicular and spinal cord compression. As fusion procedures have gained widespread acceptance, efforts in research and development have focused on improving and simplifying aspects of these surgeries to enhance patient outcomes. Various devices, including allograft bone with anterior plating, polyether ether ketone (PEEK) cages with anterior plating, and other interbody fusion devices, have been utilized, yielding mixed results. Despite the numerous technical and biomechanical advancements offering diverse fusion options, the combination of cages and anterior cervical plates has increased the risk of complications such as dysphagia.