Table 5.

Characteristics of each surgical procedure

ACD	ACDF
Similar outcome to ACDF on long term	Similar outcome to ACD on long term
Lower risk hoarseness (2.2% versus 5%)	Quicker neck pain relief after surgery
No additional morbidity of a donor site	Better sagittal alignment
Lower costs	Additional morbidity: pain at donor site
Shorter length surgical procedure	Possible complications at donor site
Shorter hospital stay	(Hematoma, infection, pelvic fracture)

ACD anterior cervical discectomy, ACDF anterior cervical discectomy with fusion