Anterior or posterior approach in the surgical treatment of cervical radiculopathy; neurosurgeons’ preference in the Netherlands

Several surgical techniques are available for the treatment of cervical degenerative disease. For resolving nerve root compression, anterior discectomy with fusion (ACDF) or posterior foraminotomy (PCF) can be applied. Amongst neurosurgeons, there seems to a tendency prefer ACDF, even though some advantages in favor PCF. The objective present study is evaluate which factors determine choice an approach patients radiculopathy based on foraminal pathology. A web-based survey was sent all 133 neurosurgeons Netherlands. followed mixed methods cross-sectional design. first part focused general perceived (dis)advantages ACDF and second concerned questions about between two procedures. Furthermore, it analyzed if exposure during training, amount performed surgeries, assumed reoperation complication rates influenced procedure by conducting Chi-square tests post-hoc analysis. total 56 responded (42%). An overall preference observed, when differentiating pure disc prolapse, spondylotic combined stenosis neuroforamen. most relative important motivating either PCF were: best decompression (18%), congruence current literature (16%), residency (12%), personal comfort (11%) experience technique. In this survey, above radiculopathy. addition subjective as “experience” “comfort”, respondents often motivated their “the one according literature”. As currently no evidence superiority any procedures literature, assumption remarkable.