• Wuyi Xiong, Jiaming Zhou, Chao Sun, Zhao Chen, Xing Guo, Xiaoyang Huo, Shiwei Liu, Jingchao Li, and Yuan Xue.
• Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Heping District, Tianjin, China.
• Spine. 2020 Jan 15; 45 (2): 96-102.

Study DesignRetrospective analysis.ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of different degrees of distraction in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and evaluate the risk factors for adjacent segment degeneration (ASD).Summary Of Background DataASD is a common complication following ACDF. Inadequate distraction of the intervertebral space during surgery is associated with ASD; however, there is still an ongoing debate regarding what degree of distraction is appropriate.MethodsThis retrospective study enrolled 130 patients who underwent single-level ACDF for cervical degenerative disc disease and were followed up at least 2 years. The patients were divided into the following three groups according to the degree of distraction (≤0.5, 0.5-1, ≥1): insufficient distraction group (ID group), appropriate distraction group (AD group), and excessive distraction group (ED group). The clinical outcomes and radiological parameters were evaluated before and after operation and at the last follow-up. Risk factors for ASD were identified through logistic regression analysis.ResultsA significant difference was found in the Visual Analog Scale values between the AD group and ED group at the final follow-up. Moreover, the highest upper segmental disc height (DH), highest lower segmental DH, and lowest incidence of ASD were found in the AD group among the three groups at last follow up. Logistic regression analysis revealed that segmental kyphosis (odds ratio = 2.821, P = 0.020) was a risk factor for the occurrence of ASD and 0.5- to 1-fold distraction (odds ratio = 0.350, P = 0.025) was a protective factor.ConclusionGood clinical and radiological outcomes were achieved in ACDF with 0.5- to 1-fold distraction. Segmental kyphosis is a risk factor for ASD in ACDF, whereas 0.5- to 1-fold distraction is a protective factor of ASD.Level Of Evidence4.

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