Cervical myelopathy is a debilitating degenerative condition caused by spinal cord compression, which may affect multiple levels of the cervical spinal cord. It frequently necessitates surgical intervention when conservative treatment fails. While anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) has long been the standard procedure, cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) has emerged as a viable alternative, particularly for patients with isolated one-level disease. This comprehensive review, according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, synthesizes current literature evaluating the safety, efficacy, and biomechanical advantages of CDA in treating isolated one-level cervical myelopathy and/or radiculopathy. Evidence from current scientific papers demonstrates that CDA provides comparable neurological improvement to ACDF, since the process of decompressing is the same for both of them, while offering superior motion preservation, reduced rates of adjacent segment degeneration (ASD), and lower reoperation rates. Patient selection remains critical, with radiological and clinical criteria guiding candidacy for CDA. Technological advances, including 3D-printed implants and robotic-assisted surgery, are further enhancing outcomes and expanding indications. As long-term data accumulate continuously, CDA is increasingly supported as an effective, motion-preserving option for appropriately selected patients with single-level cervical myelopathy.
Zygogiannis et al. (Thu,) studied this question.