Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42426267›Full record

ArticleEuropean spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society2026

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion without anchoring: a multicenter comparison of stand-alone porous titanium versus anchored PEEK interbody cages.

Stefano Colonna, Flavio Panico, Andrea Gatto, Francesco Maria Dell'Accio, Luca Ceroni, Emanuele Bavaresco, Nicola Zullo, Marco Bozzaro, Salvatore Petrone, Marco Ajello and 3 more

Abstract readMulticenter StudyComparative Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Stefano ColonnaNeurosurgery Unit, Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi-Montalcini", University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Flavio PanicoNeurosurgery Unit, Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi-Montalcini", University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Andrea GattoNeurosurgery Unit, Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi-Montalcini", University of Turin, Turin, Italy. andrea.gatto@unito.it.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6019-4735
Francesco Maria Dell'AccioNeurosurgery Unit, Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi-Montalcini", University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Luca CeroniDepartment of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Emanuele BavarescoNeurosurgery Unit, Casa di Cura "Clinica Città di Bra", Bra, Italy.
Nicola ZulloNeurosurgery Unit, Casa di Cura "Clinica Città di Bra", Bra, Italy.
Marco BozzaroNeurosurgery Unit, Ospedale Humanitas Gradenigo, Turin, Italy.
Salvatore PetroneNeurosurgery Unit, Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi-Montalcini", University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Marco AjelloNeurosurgery Unit, Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi-Montalcini", University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Nicola MarengoNeurosurgery Unit, Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi-Montalcini", University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Diego GarbossaNeurosurgery Unit, Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi-Montalcini", University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Fabio CofanoNeurosurgery Unit, Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi-Montalcini", University of Turin, Turin, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo compare clinical and radiological outcomes of ACDF performed using stand-alone 3D-printed porous titanium cages versus anchored polyetheretherketone (PEEK) interbody cages in patients with degenerative cervical spine disease.

methodsThis multicenter retrospective study included consecutive adult patients who underwent single- or two-level ACDF between January 2020 and October 2024. Patients were treated with either stand-alone porous titanium cages or anchored zero-profile PEEK cages. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the NRS and the SF-12 questionnaire. Radiological outcomes included intersomatic fusion, cage subsidence, and sagittal alignment parameters. Fusion was evaluated on static cervical radiographs at 12 months. Complications and revision surgeries were recorded.

resultsA total of 265 patients were included (121 stand-alone; 144 anchored). Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were comparable between groups. Operative time was significantly shorter in the stand-alone group (85 vs. 112 min). Both groups showed significant postoperative improvement in pain and functional scores. The magnitude of pain reduction was greater in the stand-alone cohort, while SF-12 improvement was comparable. Fusion rates (88.4% vs. 92.3%), subsidence rates (5.7% vs. 4.1%), complication rates, and sagittal alignment parameters did not differ significantly between groups. Osteoporosis was the only factor associated with an increased risk of cage subsidence.

conclusionIn this multicenter study, stand-alone 3D-printed porous titanium cages achieved clinical and radiological outcomes comparable to anchored PEEK cages in ACDF, with shorter operative times, preserved sagittal alignment, and similar complication, fusion, and subsidence rates. These findings support their use as a safe and efficient alternative in appropriately selected patients.

Indexed as

Cervical VertebraeDiskectomyInternal FixatorsIntervertebral Disc DegenerationKetonesPolyethylene GlycolsSpinal FusionTitaniumAdultAgedBenzophenonesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPolymersBenzophenonesKetonespolyetheretherketonePolyethylene GlycolsPolymersTitaniumAnterior cervical discectomy and fusionCervical degenerative diseaseMulticenter studyPEEK cagePorous titaniumStand-alone interbody cage

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.