Stand-alone anchored cage versus cage with plating for single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: a prospective, randomized, controlled study with a 2-year follow-up

50 patients with single-level cervical radiculopathy presenting with chronic neck pain and undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) were randomized to receive either a standalone anchored polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cage (PREVAIL) or a PEEK cage with plating. The purpose of the study was to compare clinical and radiological outcomes between groups over 2 year follow-up. The results indicated that the stand-alone anchored PEEK device provided comparable clinical and radiograpahical outcomes to that of PEEK cage with anterior plating. Dysphasia rate was not significantly different between groups, and resolved in all patients by 3 months.