This study was designed to compare the outcome of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) with autogenous bone graft, ACDF with plating, and ACDF with carbon cage and plating for the surgical treatment of single-level degenerative cervical spine disorder.

We analyzed 60 cases who received single level ACDF for the treatment of degenerative cervical disorder with at least one year follow-up. Group A consisted of 21 patients treated by ACDF and autogenous bone graft. Group B consisted of 20 patients treated by ACDF and plate fixation, and group C consisted of 19 patients treated by Carbon cage and plate fixation. We compared 3 groups in terms of fusion status, change in Cobb angle and disc height, and clinical results using Odom method.

The change of Cobb angle was -3.8 °in group A, -0.62 °in group B and 0.6 °in group C (p=0.042). The decreased disc height was 2.8 mm in group A, 1.4 mm in group B and 0.4 mm in group C respectively (p=0.001). In group A, the clinical results were excellent in 3 cases, good in 16 cases and fair in 2 cases. In group B, 4 cases were excellent, 13 good and 3 fair. And in group C, 5 cases were excellent and 14 good.

ACDF with carbon cage and plate fixation proved an excellent surgical alternative that provided initial stability, maintained disc height and lordotic angle, and was accompanied by low donor site morbidity and reduced operation time for the treatment of single level degenerative cervical spinal disorder.