title: Functional and quality of life evaluation after single level cervical discectomy and fusion or cervical artificial disc replacement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate and compare clinical, functional and quality of life (QOL) outcomes after two types of surgical approach for single level cervical disc herniation: anterior cervical discectomy andfusion (ACDF) with cage and cervical artificial disc replacement (C-ADR).
  
  
  METHODS
  119 patients with cervical disc herniation underwent surgery from January 2007 to December 2010; 55 patients were included in the study (27 ACDF, 28 C-ADR). We performed: a pre and postoperative clinical evaluation of cervicobrachial pain, motor and sensory deficit in the upper limbs; a functional and QOL evaluation with self assessment scales (VAS, NPNQ, SF-36); a postoperative instrumental evaluation of cervical ROM and pain. Mean follow-up period was 24 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After surgery both groups showed clinical, functional and QOL improvement. No pre and postoperative differences were found between the groups. The postoperative instrumental evaluation showed a globally reduced cervical ROM and a decreased pain threshold in comparison with normal values in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate the clinical equivalence of the two surgical techniques and the satisfaction of the two groups of patients two years after surgery. Although functional changes persist after surgery they do not affect quality of life.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sala
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lisi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Natali
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zanellato
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dall'Angelo
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tinelli
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bellantoni
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bejor
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dalla Toffola
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods; D059145:Total Disc Replacement / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome