Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)

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

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) nowadays is considered a common procedure.postoperative pain can hinder recovery and prolong hospital stay. The superficial cervical plexus block (SCPB) is a safe and simple technique that had been found to allow good pain relief in neck surgeries. The main drawback of SCPB was short duration, so adjuvants as dexmedetomidine and opioids has been used to increase analgesic duration and decrease the use of opioids. The current study will compare the efficacy of dexmedetomidine and nalbuphine as adjuvants to bupivacaine in SCPB in anterior cervical fusion surgeries.