Clinical Investigation

Evaluation of Cervical Disc Herniations Operated With Anterior Surgical Approach

  • Soner YAYCIOGLU
  • Deniz GÖKPINAR

Received Date: 27.06.2003 Accepted Date: 18.07.2003 Meandros Med Dent J 2003;4(2):11-14

Objective: The aim of this clinical study is to evaluate cervical disc herniations with respect to age, sex and presence of spondylosis;to obtain the ratio of medical versus surgical treatment success and to examine the results of anterior cervical discectomies. Material and Method: Between 1998 to 2002, we examined 757 patients who had neck and arm pain. For this group, the ratios of diagnosed cervical disc herniation and medically treated patients were obtained. Twenty-two patients who had underwent surgical treatment were evaluated for relief of symptoms and clinical findings. Outcomeassessmentincludedpatient satisfactionandpostoperativecomplications. Results: One hundred seventy patients(%22.45) were diagnosed with cervical disc herniation among 757 patients who had neck and arm pain. Ninty-eight patients(%57.64) were treated medically.Twenty-two patients of these(%12.94) were operated on via anterior approach. The mean follow-up period was 18 months. In this group, women were younger than men and this result was statistically significant. Cervical disc herniations revealed a high co-incidence with spondylosis. Long-term outcomes of surgically treated patients were found to be good. Conclusion: This study suggests that anterior cervical discectomy with or without fusions for cervical disc herniation is an effective surgical method which didnot cause any major problems in our patients.

Keywords: Anterior cervical discectomy, cervical disc herniation, cervical stability