Researchers compared safety and outcomes for multiple-level and single-level cervical disc replacements for patients with cervical spondylosis, in a study published in Clinical Spine Surgery.
The study pulled data from MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane library through November 2015, assessing clinical outcomes of single-level and multiple-level CDR for cervical spondylosis treatment. The researchers focused on 10 studies with a total of 1,402 patients.
Examined outcomes included:
• Heterotopic ossification and reoperation prevalence
• Preoperative and postoperative Neck Disability Index scores
• Preoperative and postoperative Visual Analog Scale scores
• Success rate via Odom grading system
Researchers discovered no significant differences between single-level and multiple-level patients regarding any of the outcomes.
Therefore, researchers concluded, "multiple-level CDR is as effective and safe as the single-level CDR." They noted further evaluation is necessary, however.