Screw-Integrated vs Traditional Cervical Cages in ACDF for Degenerative Disc Disease

Plain-language summary

This study is a prospective, comparative clinical trial conducted at Assiut University Hospitals to evaluate the effectiveness of two different interbody fusion devices in patients with Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease (CDDD). The primary objective is to compare cervical cages with integrated screws against traditional stand-alone cervical cages during single or double-level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF). While ACDF is the gold standard for CDDD, traditional cages can sometimes lead to complications like subsidence or incomplete fusion; integrated screw designs aim to provide immediate stability and reduce these risks. Investigators will assess 40 patients over a 12-month follow-up period, focusing on primary outcomes of radiological interbody fusion using the Daniel Riew grading system. Secondary outcomes include the maintenance of cervical alignment (Ishihara Index), change in segmental angles (Cobb's method), disc height restoration, and clinical improvements in pain and function measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Neck Disability Index (NDI). The study's rationale is to provide clearer evidence on whether screw-integrated cages offer superior radiological and clinical outcomes to help guide future surgical preferences

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