ACDF Comparison Trial

ACDF is a surgical technique used to treat a variety of cervical spine disorders, such as nerve root or spinal cord compression, cervical spondylosis, and cervical spinal stenosis. The anterior approach to the cervical spine for discectomy and fusion by the insertion of an autologous iliac crest tricortical bone graft was first described by Robinson and Smith in 1955. In 1958, Cloward described a wide anterior cylindrical discectomy performed with a special reamer combined with anterior fusion by the insertion of autologous iliac bone graft of the same shape. At Duke University Health Systems, both allografts and Cohere porous PEEK fusion device are used for ACDF.

Bagby et al. developed the first interbody fusion cage. Cages of different shapes and materials are used to perform ACDF which, in some cases, could be associated with plate fixation. At Duke University Health Systems, both allografts and Cohere porous PEEK fusion device are used for ACDF.