title: [Anterior cervical discectomy with or without bone graft placement in the treatment of cervical radiculopathy. Long-term results].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Anterior approach for cervical radiculopathy is a frequently performed operation in neurosurgery. The goal of this study is to evaluate the short and long-term results of anterior cervical discectomy with and without fusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1984 and 1999, we operated on 101 patients presenting with cervical radiculopathy by an anterior approach. The operation consisted of one-level discectomy in 74 cases, two-level discectomy in 25 cases and three-level discectomy in 2 cases. Eighty-four out of 130 levels operated on were fused. Evaluation was done following a consultation with dynamic cervical X-rays and by telephone using a detailed questionnaire. Follow-up was obtained in 91 cases with a mean of 54 months in fused patients, and a mean of 45 months in the non-fused patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Post-operative results were good in 95% in the 2 groups of patients. We encountered 8 complications, all in patients operated with bone graft placement. Five patients were reoperated on at an adjacent level, 4 being fused previously.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 2 techniques are comparable in term of goods results at short and long-term follow-up. Anterior discectomy without fusion is associated with less complications, less post-operative pain, and less operative time cost.
authors.affiliation: Service de Neurochirurgie, Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu de France, Beirut, Lebanon. parkin@terra.net.lb
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nohra
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abi-Lahoud
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jabbour
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salloum
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rizk
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Samaha
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moussa
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okais
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001842:Bone and Bones; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors